GW, I concur with George here...  Nearly all questions pertaining to drugs on polygraphs are relevant ones.

If I were you, I would expect a relevant question something along the lines of "Besides what we have already discussed (what you have admitted), have you ever used any illegal drugs?"  George's scenario (where they show you a list of the agency's acceptable use guidelines and then ask you "Have you violated this agency's guidelines with respect to the use of illegal drugs) is also very likely.

I have heard of irrelevant questions about drugs used for current police officers (many of whom have worked around narcotics).  These usually read something like "In your duty as a police officer, have you ever been around/seen illegal drugs?"  These are often placed before and/or after the relevant question about drug use ("Have you violated agency guidelines.")

G.W.,

If you have already admitted to having tried marijuana, then the question, "Have you ever used marijuana?" would not be a productive relevant question, as the answer is already known. Nor would the question be suitable as a probable-lie "control" question, as your answer to it will be a truthful "yes."

Instead, you are likely to be asked a relevant question about use of illegal drugs along the lines of, "Did you violate this agency's drug usage guidelines? (which have previously been explained to you)" or "Did you smoke marijuana more than X times?"

When employing countermeasures, it is important that one augment one's physiological responses only to those questions which one clearly recognizes as "control" questions. If one were to erroneously augment one's responses to a relevant question, then one would very likely fail. Thus, if one is not sure about a question, it would be safest to assume that it is not a "control" question. Review Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for more on how to distinguish relevant from "control" questions (but don't hesitate to post any further questions you may have).

After your pre-employment polygraph, consider posting a note to the Share Your Polygraph Experience forum.

that all depends?  If you are specifically asked a period of time you used it which will more than likely make it a relevant question, but if just asked have you ever used any drugs, then yes you would show a hightened response to it, pending you admitted to it...any vague question is a control, any pertinent or specific question is a relevant and must show a normal breathing pattern, as long as you show a higher or manipulated reation to the control you have already won..

I have read most of "behind the lie.." and Doug Williams' piece in preparation for a law enforcement pre-employment polygraph.  I admitted to having tried marijuana.  So if I am asked the following relevant question "have you ever used marijuana," should I treat this as a control question?(with a hightened response). 8)