I'm looking for a career change. My interests are to work for the government, specifically in a job where I am actually doing something with my life and making a difference to other people.  I'm almost too old to be an FBI or CIA agent, thats not a problem, I understand that, but I would like to work in the intelligence community even if it is a low level type job.  I don't have visions of grandeur, expecting James Bond or Alias type workplaces.

My problem is with the polygraph test.  I'm not in debt, no criminal record etc but I have done drugs.  Smoked some marijuana within the last three years and some harder drugs in my younger days.  I know I'll be asked about it and I'd have to be truthful about it. Does this basically disqualify as someone who makes bad decisions.  It kind of sucks, after all this time having done something I wish I hadn't.  Now I hardly even drink (almost to the point of abstention, 1 glass of wine a month maybe).

Has anyone else had basically the same problem or set of circumstances and have any insight into whether it would be a futile process or not.

edited - punctuation

The use of marijuana within the last three years (or more than 15 times during your life) disqualifies you from FBI employment. So too does the use of any "hard drug," ever.

My understanding is that the CIA has a more pragmatic policy regarding past drug use. It does not, however, have a published "cut-off" level (though one may in fact be in place). I suspect that your use of marijuana as recently as within the last three years may pose a problem.