Expert: Jack Toomey - 9/27/2010

Question
I am a college student who plans on majoring in criminal justice, with the
eventual hope of working for a federal law enforcement agency. After
graduation I plan on either going to law school or commissioning as an officer
in the military, as I know that nowadays a simple bachelors degree is not
enough to get you noticed as an applicant to a federal agency. I chose to
study CJ because it is what most interests me. My question pertains to illegal
drug usage. From my junior year of high school to the beginning of my
sophomore year in college (current year) I used marijuana somewhat
recreationally; if I had to put a number on the times of use in the three and a
half years since trying it I would put it at around 30 times. It was mostly due
to influences by the people that I associated myself with. (Not trying to make
excuses, just clarifying that I never saw it as this glorifying and attracting
thing that many kids see it as). I never bought nor sold it, I have never used
any other illegal drug, and would never have considered myself a "pothead" or
even a "regular" user by any means. Marijuana has never held an even
remotely important place in my life, I basically looked at it as just a way to
have a fun evening every now and then with a few friends if I had nothing to
do; If you saw me on the street you would never look at me and think that I
had smoked marijuana. I have never been arrested or had any negative
involvement with law enforcement in any way. Until now I was never really
aware of how strict many agencies are when it comes to drugs. I am mainly
interested in perhaps working for either the United States Marshals Service,
ICE, or maybe eventually the FBI. My basic question is, do you think that the
aforementioned marijuana usage would be enough to prevent me from
working for one of these federal agencies? Obviously I plan on never again
using marijuana. If you could help me out with this I would be greatly
appreciative. Thank you
-John

Answer
John,

This is going to be a very general answer because I know very little about the hiring standards for any of the agencies that you mentioned.

If you were applying for MY police department the standard would be if you were a habitual user of marijuana then you would be disqualified.  If you were a recreational user then it would be ok.  I don't know if federal agencies have the same standard because I was never an employee of the US government.