Looking for some advice here for someone new to the govt contracting/ security clearance world.
I recently decided I’m ready for a career change, and intelligence work has always interested me. After applying for a position with a contractor, I (surprisingly) am now at the next juncture, where I’ve been asked for pre-screening information to start processing for a ts/sci with full scope poly.
As much as I would love to proceed, I have major concerns about the security process.
I rarely drink, have excellent work history and references, a completely clean background and seemingly boring life except for the fact that I use cannabis tincture to manage anxiety and insomnia. I grew up with a bipolar mom and no dad, and no siblings to help with my mom, so anxiety has been a large part of my life, even into adulthood.
The first time I tried cannabis was in my second year of college - previous to that I never did anything/ didn’t event drink in high school, and didn’t use cannabis regularly until about six years ago (2014). It is decriminalized where I live but I understand the federal law is what stands here. I literally add tincture to my tea at home- that’s the extend of my use.
My question is- should I even try to go forward with this process? I’m worried that being denied will hurt my future chances of this line of work and perhaps it’s just better to decline this opportunity now, stop, wait for a year or so (or more?) and then apply.
Should I just drop out of the process? Should I share this (trust) the recruiter for advice?
Please advise, thank you all in advance for your help.
Cant really give you an answer but I wanted to point out that they stress to all cleared individuals NOT to use any CBD products. They say that they main contain small amounts of THC but I also suspect that the drug testing is not capable of detecting the difference
If you do the pre-screening with the potential employer and they reject you, that information will not get sent to the government. And if they should reject you, that does not necessarily mean you couldn’t get cleared, it may just mean that they do not want to take the chance or wait an awfully long time.
Dont ask the recruiter. Just fill out the pre-screening and see what happens. That’s my two cents.
The position eventually shifts in the fed system. Normally they want 12 months no use from date of signing certifying sf86. If older than 24 they may want a longer period. I recommend getting a legal RX for something to wean you from cannabis and be honest on screening. As more states legalize more will use. The feds will need come around a bit IMHO.
Here’s another question for the group - if I also recently lived with someone who has an active clearance, will what I put on my application/ discuss in my interview affect them and their clearance?
To me, it wouldn’t be worth jeopardizing someone else’s job for this opportunity.
Are you saying lie and falsify his SF86? That is a no go. Being aware of misconduct of another cleared person will cause a denial or revocation once uncovered. Am I naive thinking many cleared folks aren’t smoking dope? Heck no. Its everywhere. More prevalent and growing with multi state legalization. That doesn’t make it legal for a cleared person. Yes it can compromise a person if threatened to reveal illicit use. Blackmail is real.
So, just a small update. I now have a legal prescription from my doctor for meds to help me with anxiety/ insomnia and am over one month now with no cannabis use.
Ive declined the conditional offer of employment for now (thank goodness I am in a position where I am currently employed). My plan is to reapply in a year and hopefully working with the same recruiters will be able to enter the process again.
