I am going to be applying for TS clearance soon for work with a contractor and am a little worried about a couple of incidents in my past.

First,  about a year ago I found what appeared to be a small marijuana plant growing in the ditch near my house. I pulled it up so none of the kids would find it and threw it in the trash. A few days later I saw it in the trash and became curious and plucked off a piece of the leaf and took a match to it and inhaled a couple times. I suppose it smelled like marijuana - at least what I recall from my youth, but there was no psychotropic effect (i.e. I have gotten more stoned off a cup of weak tea.) I plan to be truthful about this incident but I'm worried how this is going to affect my chances. Should I just wait for a while or go for it now? I should note that other than this incident I haven't used any illegal drugs since my teens (~20 years ago) and don't even drink for that matter.

Secondly, I was living overseas in the late 90's. While there I went out with this woman who I found out was only 17. Before I discovered her age we had made out once - no clothes came off but there was some deep kissing and a bit of light petting and such. Just so nobody thinks I'm a pervert I should point out that she was the "aggressor" and as soon as I found out her age I made it clear to her that we could not be intimate (though we did remain friends.)  The age of consent in the country I was living is 16 so there was nothing illegal going on, but I have to admit it is a little embarassing. Is this going to hurt my chances?

Also, during the clearance process is much/any consideration given to the skills of the applicant? That is, is it possible that they will clear me in spite of some intermitent silliness (basically what I mentioned above) because I have knowledge and skills that are in high demand?

Clinton's last words: 

"I did not inhale" and "I did not have sex with that woman."

Clinton's last words:   
 
"I did not inhale" and "I did not have sex with that woman."

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Heh. Brilliant. I haven't heard that comment before. But you raise an interesting point. Perhaps I should forget intelligence work and instead go for the presidency? Not a bad idea...not bad at all. The security checks would probably be less of an obstacle in any case.