I applied with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs in 1998.  I turned in my background packet and took the polygrahy.  The polygrapher, during the post-test interview, tolk me that I showed signs of deception with regards to Marijuana usage and cocane.  I told him I never used cocane and that I may have been bothered by the question because my sister failed a polygraph because it showed she was being deceptive when asked about cocane and I thought about that when asked myself.  When asked about why I reacted to 
" Have you used marijuana more than what you told me?",  I told the polygrapher that I do not know why I reacted and I have not used more than I told you.  He had me write this all down on paper and sign it.  I was later told by my background investigator that I should withdrawl my application because there is a good chance I will be disqualified because of a pattern of misbehavior.  She said that nothing in my background alone is disqualifing, but the pattern will most likely result in DQ.  She said if I am DQ, it will be harder to pass a background in the future and said for me to withdrawl my application and try again in a couple years.  She told me to improve upon myself in the mean time and not get into any trouble.  Here are my questions:  I do not know if I passed or failed the polygraph.  Do you think I passed it or failed it?  I am about to test with my local police, which is not in California.  Will they have access to the polygraph, background, and application that I turned into LA Sheriffs?  I admitted to smoking marijuana for a year and a half and about twice a month so less that 40 times total.  Did I burn myself for being so truthful?  The policy here states, no drug use in the last five years.  I have not used in over eight years.  What do you think?

Treetop, You said you smoked mj for nearly 1 year and a half, 2 times a month.  Im not writing this post to judge you, But this can probably hurt you with many lawenforcement agencies.

just because they say 5 years that does not mean they will just forgive the issue. They will also evaluate other areas of the applicant such as credit history, ect.  My cousin is in the LAPD and he knows background investigators in the agency, According to what he said regardless how distant time has passed regarding an applicants drug history it is still looked serious if its more than a certain time. im just posting what i heard, not  judging you