wow, that is liberal.......

Spoon,

This is my department's policy, which I think is quite liberal, re: prior drug use by candidates with a non-law enforcement backround.

"The following illegal drug use will be automatically disqualifying, without exception:

1.  Any adult use of a drug classified as a hallucinogen within 7 years prior to the application for employment.

2.  Any adult use of marijuana within 1 year prior to the application for employment.

3.  Any illegal adult use of any drug not mentioned above, including cocaine, within 3 years prior to the application for employment."

However, keep in mind that although an applicant's prior drug use may not be automatically disqualifying, it will definitely be considered in the hiring decision.  Good luck.

Good reply Dimas, right on the head.

Spoon when I took my poly I had not smoked marijuana in over 15 years (twice in college).  I joined to service to straighten myself out and build my background knowing that what Dimas just wrote, I had to work on "Integrity", "maturity" and "good moral charracter" and this took more than a couple of years to prove myself before I even felt comfortable selling myself to an agency, and being able to account for my indescretions......

All departments have a requirement that is VERY VAGUE, along the lines of a candidate must have good moral character or something like that.  This is actually the disqualifier that is used to disqualify candidates that we "feel" would not make a good LE officer.  In the case of it being 7 months they could techinically disqualify for the drug use based on the "good moral character" requirement.  

As far as the polygraph is concerned I came on to my department prior to their using the polygraph on all candidates.  Personally my experience with the poly has been a False positive, followed by inconclusives on the other 2( these were all done for another department).  

It's a crap shoot and unfortunately it also catches quite a few of us innocents, however, to be honest with you I am glad that our department is using it.  I say this as a supervisor that is sick and tired of corrupt officers making it into the department and the polygraph has done wonders in having unfit candidates spill their guts about their gang affiliations, crimes and drug use.  It is a necessary evil at this time for us to use the polygraph as part of the hiring process.

Personally, when interviewing candidates in the oral board all I am looking for is HONESTY.  You don't need to be perfect, but you also can't be a criminal and expect to get a job as a cop.  Candidates admitting to drug use and showing remorse or stating that they learned from it and no longer will have the temptation or curiousity to try drugs are not docked any points on my part.  This is of course only if the drug use was experimental and definitely not the type you inject into a vein.  I also think having use drugs 7 months ago is a bit too recent and I would probably fail you based on how recent it was.  3 years is more or less a good time to have not touched an illegal substance and one that most of us would probably feel comfortable with.

Here I am again, sorry about the spelling.  Actually the department that I want to work for has a drug policy of seven months.  By that time it would have been over a year since my pathetic run in with marijuana.  Do you think that they just say seven months and expect no less than three years of being drug free?  Do I still really have a chance?
Plus what about when you senior guys took the poly and said that you have tried marijuana, what was there reaction in the personal interview to your experience.

Unfortunately, your drug use is too recent and I really doubt that any LE department would hire you regarding your use of drugs.

BTW it is not "higher" it is "HIRE", perhaps you should have been studying in college and not taking a drag off of your friends joint.   

I'm just giving you a hard time, but in all seriousness it looks like you are going to have to wait a few years.

I agree with Anxiety but some agencies it may be two years, depends on the policy....

Doesn't matter what excuses you give each department has hiring standards and has to uphold them. Most will not hire you if you just used marijuana 7 months ago.You will need at least three years between this incident.You may be an excellent canidate but you will be DQ'd if you admit to this.

Anxiety

My goal is to become a police officer and I think that I would make an outstanding asset to any department due to that I really have a passion for LE, but I am woried about being hired.  I tried marijuana when I was about 12, when a friend offered it to me and then again about 7 months ago at a college party. STUPID I KNOW. Both time I never got high and only took one drag each time and I don't even think that I did it right, in college all I preaty much did was put the joint to my mouth and then gave it away.  Will a department higher me if I am a good guy but tried marijuana within one year. I don't plan on lying on the Poly test though, because lying is not my thing. On the test can you explain about the grounds on which you tried a drug or is it just a yes or no question? Will the recruiting officer understand my short comings.

Thanks to anyone who really knows what they are talking about.