Drug Use

[jspsher]

Guys I got a question that my friend wanted to know.

Basically my pal is 23 years old. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in political science. While in college, he used all drugs you can imagine, from cocaine to PCP to marijuana. My question from him to you guys is that:

Can he get on with a federal agency with his drug usage or a local PD?

This was my response to him. I said if it were just marijuana use, there might be a chance, but since you did hardcore drug use, that speaks to your moral character and they will not hire you.

Please advice on rule of drug use and based on your experiene guys, have you seen people getting hired with Federal Agencies or local PD with hardcore just use beyond experimental?

Jasper

[BRA260]

You can get away with very little MJ usage, but the harder stuff is a nail in the coffin. It is right on the application.

[dmclark]

I'm going to respond to this and move the thread to Drugs and Law Enforcement where it belongs.

You were correct in advising your friend. Some MJ experimentation is OKd, but your friend will not get into LE with PCP use and other drugs/narcotics.

I'd tell him to consider other vocations than law enforcement.

[Feebie]

Here is the rule for FBI applicants:

You cannot have used marijuana more than 15 times in your lifetime, or within the past 3 years.

You cannot have used any other illegal drug more than 5 times in your lifetime or within the past 10 years.

You cannot have used ANY drug while employed in a position of public trust, i.e. a police officer

Most of us think this is a pretty liberal drug policy, but it would probably exclude a 23 year old who used hard drugs in college. There was some talk at the last conference about changing the policy, but most of us thought that it was fine the way it is. We all make choices in life and then have to live with the consequences.

[Tax987]

PCP???? What was this guy thinking and now he wants to think about LE. Let me be perfectly clear... Individuals do not just take PCP for experimental purpuses...I can live with some MJ experimentation in high school or college and MAYBE a one or two time experimentaion with cocaine (depending on an individuals other quals and age of use) but PCP, holly sh^t...this is way out there. I'm a traditional conservative and I can live with the latter but PCP??? No department even those with a liberal policy would touch this guy--most departments and federal agencies take hard drug use on a case by case bases depending on the individuals and quals and time and age since use but PCP?????This is a true first for me.

[sigy]

How do you really feel? LOL!!!!

[jspsher]

How I really feel?

I feel my friend should not become a cop because there would be a lack of trust in his judgement. He believes because of his education, he would be an asset to the PD. I said there is more to becoming a police officer than just a degree. Items like trust, honor, loyalty, and commitment all comes into play.

Joseph

[dmclark]

I believe the most liberal department policies would not consider anyone with hallucinogenic drug use. That includes PCP, LSD, Peyote, etc.

Remember...Don't do today what you can live with tomorrow. Stay safe!

[Mister Jinxy]

Guy like that makes me ashamed to be a fellow Hokie. Idiot.