Sara N,

Your situation bears some striking resemblances to my own a few years ago with the CIA. (See my personal statement for all the details if interested.)

You are correct that if you admit to even a one-time marijuana use as recently as a year ago, you would likely be disqualified. That's just agency policy. However, if you're being referred to the FBI by a current agent, that gives an internal reference which, like any job application, is a leg up. If you withhold your marijuana experiment from your FBI friend and admit to it during the application process, you will likely lose out with both your friend and the FBI -- not good.

Two other alternatives exist though. One is to tell your friend about your experiment, and depending on how well she knows you, she could mitigate its consequences against you during the application process. She could possibly convince the FBI it was just a one-time mistake, not indicative of a general bent toward illicit drug usage, which could prevent your automatic disqualification. However, if she pulls that off (no clue as to how likely that is), it's a sure bet that the FBI will make it an explicit part of your polygraph whether or not your drug usage transcends what you reported. If you pass the poly, they may believe you and continue your application. If you don't pass, you're disqualified, and perhaps make your friend look bad (of-course, it would help if your friend is aware that polygraphy is no more than a hussle).

The other alternative, is to completely withhold your one-time experiement with marijuana. I won't advise you which path to go down, that's up to you, as well as is how to deal with the polygraph. Just know that if you inform the FBI of your experiment, you are putting a very large obstacle in front of you. Good luck.

So has anyone heard of anyone being truthful about their drug use and still getting in???  Also, would you advise me to wait 2 years and just get some work experience in the meantime??  I'd like to get in now b/c the FBI is hiring for people with my degree when most others are not, but I really would like to get in and don't want to blow my chances.

Let's say that when the time comes, on the application or wherever it may be....that I admit to using a year ago, will I ever be able to apply again??  Or can I only never apply again if they find out I lied somewhere?

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Dear Sara N.,

I have heard of people being honest with their drug use and getting in but they were within policy guidelines and like False+ has stated, they were subject to severe scrutiny beyond the crapshoot  of the polygraph.

Please wait two years so you can be within the policy guidelines and you will be able to look anyone in the eye and unhesitantingly state that you are within the FBI drug policy.

If you lie about it now and they find out anytime in the future, your whole career will be in possible jeopardy. You state that you have done it within the past three years and if you lie about it in any way the FBI will be very unforgiving.  I doubt you will ever be seriously considered again.  The FBI states on its webpage, applications, and background investigation that anyone who has used marijuana in the past three years should NOT apply.  The FBI is going to allow you to make life and death decisions in your career and your court testimony might take away someone's right to live outside of prison.  They will not take lightly the fact that you cannot read and follow explicit directions on an application process.  There are many agents in the FBI who look on any illegal drug use, regardless of the guidelines in a very negative way.   

I know what a difficult process it has been for me and I have been in final background for a long time.  The FBI is far more intense and detailed in their background investigation than most organizations.  They have spent at least $20,000 to investigate my background and they leave very few stones unturned.

Regards.

Sara,
My sister (also named Sara!!!) smoked marijuana a few times while she was in her junior year of college. She graduated near the top of her class, earning a degree in International Studies. That and the fact that she fluently reads, writes and speaks 6 languages caused the FBI to recruit her heavily for an overseas assignment (CIA as well). She was very candid with the recruiter, and told him about her "recreational" drug activity and the fact that she had not done any drugs in over 1 1/2 years. He told her to stay clean for two more years and he would give her a call if she was interested, telling her that it would no longer be an issue then. This leads me to believe that if you wait it out and are then very honest with them, you will have a lot better chance than you do now.