<p>I mean Psilocybin mushrooms, say it was just a one-time event?</p>
<p>Depending on what you mean by government…</p>
<p>I know that I recently read a job opening at in my school’s database for a position at the NSA. This position made it very clear that your background was going to be highly investigated. However, they also said that drug use in the past would been looked upon in a variety of ways while taking into account the scope of it, how long ago it was, how much, etc. As far as your typical government job, I highly doubt that they would ever know about it unless you tell them. In other words, even at the NSA, I don’t think that one time a few years ago would have a real impact.</p>
<p>Obama did drugs.</p>
<p>Obama is an elected official. He never had to pass a security screening. The will of the people, whether of Illinois for senator or of all states for President, trumps all bureauacy in our system. He, by definition, has the highest clearance and need-to-know. </p>
<p>Concealing information or activities from the President is probably treason and certainly cause for dismissal from a non-elective government job…</p>
<p>Do not expect leniency for yourself unless you can get elected to a major office.LOL</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I want to work along the lines of the State department, Peace Corps, DOD, non-profit… Overseas work or assignments are what I’m interested it, and belonging to a government agency would be nice for the job security.</p>
<p>What if the psychadelic mushrooms were used only as a tool for spiritual inquiry/ religious reasons? ie. marijuana has never been tried.</p>
<p>It depends entirely on the agency and the work you’ll be doing (as well as the clearance you need). It is certainly <em>not</em> an automatic write-off. There are very few thing that are. </p>
<p>I actually just chatted with a CIA recruiter a few days ago (at an interagency event) who said that he doesn’t actually care about past drug use, but he expects you to be fully honest about <em>anything</em> you’ve done. Drugs are negotiable, but honesty is a must.</p>
<p>Other agencies have slightly varying policies – their key is looking for good judgment on your part.</p>
<p>It can’t hurt to ask specific agencies about their policies. The Coast Guard is probably the toughest.</p>
<p>Be honest. Do not leave something hanging to bite you in the a$$ later in your career.</p>
<p>I think it depends most on when. I know for the CIA they probably won’t look at you for an internship if you have done drugs within the past twelve months. But, agreed, if you are NA I’m sure it wouldn’t matter at all.</p>
<p>Theres two types of polygraph exams that federal agencies give, one examines past behavioral issues (drugs, using, selling), and the other is a counter intel polygraph.</p>
<p>If you want a desk job with the state dept, DOD, CIA, NSA you will take the counter intel one. </p>
<p>If your trying to become an FBI, DEA, secret service agent you will take the both, and drugs like coke and psychadelics are pretty much immediate disquals… i think marijuana use is ok under 4 times but over that is a no no…</p>
<p>I know that for the Stokes NSA they ask you about previous drug/arrest history and they do a polygraph on you to make sure. If you lie, you don’t get the job. If you are a finalist that has had a history, competing with people with a clean slate, they will not choose you most likely.</p>
<p>I want to clarify some confusion here. For every job that I know of (as a current employee at State), there is no ‘finalist process.’ You are offered a position, contingent upon you passing clearance. The policy, both from the recruiting/hiring agents I’ve talked to in State and elsewhere, as well as the official policies, state that drugs are not an immediate disqualifier but will be considered in the context of the person. A single event of drug use, like the OP asked about, is not an automatic write-off like people make it sound. If you really want to know, call State and ask them. If you need help with figuring out these questions, let me know.</p>