Top Secret Clearance -- Recent Drug Use

[johnnyvanilla]

I'll make this fairly short--I have been offered a position at National Archives which requires me to obtain a Top Secret security clearance (as told to me by the woman who selected me for the position). I have smoked marijuana--at some points in my life very frequently (several times a week, several a day). I stopped about 2 months ago and have severed contact with everyone I have ever smoked with. I have no interest or intentions of smoking again, but I'm wondering if I am screwed because of the small amount of time that has passed between me quitting and this security clearance.

Should I take this polygraph, or if I do and fail, will I be screwed for life?

[Sergeant1107]

If you want the job tell the person doing your background investigation what you wrote here.  If he or she tells you that much drug use so recently is a disqualifier, you can ask if you can apply again after a certain amount of time.

This really has nothing to do with the polygraph.  Be honest on your application because that's the way you should conduct yourself.  Even so, you may or may not pass the polygraph, because (unfortunately) honesty is no guarantee for passing the polygraph.

[johnnyvanilla]

Well, do you think this will be an automatic disqualification issue? Should I even bother sitting here at my computer filling out 10 years of history to be ruled out automatically for something as trivial (to me) as this? I'm on the edge about one thing: spend the time doing the paperwork to possibly be rejected and have a note made so that all future employers will be able to see or just call it quits now.

Thanks for the reply, but it's hard for me to think of a scenario where the interviewer accepts my honest thoughts on drug use and my commitment to not using any in the future and lets it go.

[George W. Maschke]

johnnyvanilla,

Your recent marijuana use will certainly preclude you from being granted access to classified information. If I were in your shoes I would cancel any polygraph appointment and withdraw myself from consideration for this position.