Questions on Pre-Employment Poly

[DipatchWannabe92]

Okay, so I'm not sure where to put this topic on here, but I figured maybe here is okay?

Anywho, my dilemma is this:
I'm a polygraph virgin and want to pass.

I'm applying for local emergency dispatch and I'm really worried that they will ask me if I have done marijuana in the past year. It was a few months ago, and I'm a bit afraid to even ask the agency what their policy is on the usage of pot (the max of how long it must be to have last smoked it).

Now, I want to tell the truth on it, but I'm afraid it will be an automatic DQ because of it being rather recent. Obviously I should have never used it in the first place if I knew what I wanted dispatch as a career. I can't change the past; however, I'm not willing to let this chance of employment slip through my fingers over a one-time usage of weed months ago. Other that time, it was over 2 years ago I had last used.

Any advice?

[Ex Member]

Dispatch,

I was waiting for someone with more insight to respond to your post, but since none have so far, I will make a comment. I am a bit surprised that a dispatcher would have to undergo a polygraph. I would have thought that a background check and possibly random drug testing would be it.

Past drug use is a tricky issue. I think the concern is that a person's desire for drugs can make them susceptible to temptation as well as possible blackmail. Most people with critical thinking skills, however, can easily carve out experimentation with cannabis from the aforementioned risks. However, others may see things in black and white.

So, ostensibly, it seems like an easy call, but it's not really. As I'm out of my comfort zone on this one, I'm hesitant to give any advice. Perhaps others can chime in.

Oh, and if you are a polygraph virgin, I guess that makes me a strumpet!  

[pailryder]

dispatch

To make an intelligent decision you must first know the agency policy.  Then you can wait until you are in compliance or withhold the info and take your chances.