Marijuana is nothing new for military recruits, but in recent years the scope of the questions have expanded beyond just whether or not an applicant has puffed, but also if they’ve profited. The plethora of marijuana and cannabis inspired establishments leaves a growing wave of military applicants with some form of marijuana investment or association. The good news is – a prior stint either using drugs or working in a drug business (particularly in a state where it was legal), shouldn’t preclude you from either military service OR a security clearance.
How to Overcome a Cannabis Connection
1. Be honest on all of your forms, and read them carefully.
Don’t disclose information that isn’t asked, but don’t avoid listing negative details, either. If a recruiter or other service member tells you not to list a prior drug connection on your SF-86, don’t listen. You may fly under the radar for a basic Secret clearance investigation, but the lie is likely to come back and haunt you down the road.
2. Put some space between you and your use.
Whether you used drugs or worked in a drug business, the more space you can put between your drug involvement and your clearance application, the better. But if you do have fairly recent marijuana involvement, don’t stress. The intelligence community is emphasizing that prior drug use should not preclude applicants, and three years of abstinence is sufficient prior to applying.
