Pman:
It can be done..I am living proof...same story with me, except I was army and it was extacy...I got a "general-under Honorable Conditions" discharge...havent even looked at how to go about changing it...any help you can provide me in taht arena would be greatly appreciated.

The thing I am worried about is going to a better/bigger agency....

I have been in a SHITHOLE for going on 3 years now, but I am a sworn LEO, and have a great record...

Young and dumb...hopefully you can overcome...good luck, brother.

I have to agree Brandon.  I am also a Marine and I have too say that until the discharge is changed your background will always be following you around intil you change it.

In addition to Officerwannabe's post,

I have also found that many departments do not make their past drug usage policies readily available.  However, I have found that a phone call to a recruiter can help you obtain such information.  Hope this helps.

-Brandon

You might be okay "IF" you can get your discharge changed to honorable.  I don't know of any dept. that will consider an applicant with anything other than an honorable discharge, but I suppose there may be a few out there.

Also,  having used cocaine just once will DQ you with a lot of depts. and most PD's don't publish what their particular DQ criteria are.  However, there are many that will hire you.   

Good luck.

One use, in the last seven years, and none since 21?  Sounds like you will be golden.  It is of course up to the particular agency to which you apply.  But, from what I have seen you have nothing to worry about in this respect.  Keep clean.

Brandon

Ok here we go...
I have a Military background, I went to Military school and I enlisted in the Marines when I was 17.  I have always wanted to be in the Military and LE since I was a kid.
In my 2nd year of being in the Marine corps I tested dirty for Cocaine and got a General discharge.  I am working with the VA to get it changed to an Honerable discharge and since it was a mistake made ONCE when I was 19 and no other bad conduct record on my file it will be changed soon.
I has been the worst thing in my life to happen and has been eating me up in side.  Right now I am working full time, I have held a full time job since my discharge and I am in school to get my BA in Criminal Justice.  I should graduate when I am 26 so it will have been 7 years since the discharge.  Does this hurt my chances to have a career in LE.