A survey finds that one in four young adults say federal marijuana employment policies prevent them from applying for government jobs

A recent survey revealed that as the federal government struggles with recruiting young people, 30 percent have declined to apply for jobs or withdrawn their applications because of the strict marijuana policies needed for security clearances.

The ClearanceJobs and Intelligence and National Security Foundation poll conducted last month, on the unofficial holiday of marijuana, April 20, interviewed young adults regarding federal employment policies.

The participants were asked if they would consider working for a federal job that required security clearance. Nearly 80 percent of them said they might or would consider applying. However, 40 percent admitted to using marijuana within the last year.

The fact that 20% of respondents said they had declined to apply for jobs at the federal level because of the government’s cannabis-restrictive policies is a notable finding. Another 10% said that they had withdrawn their applications due to the cannabis rules.

Clearancejobs.

In addition, 25 percent of respondents said that government marijuana policies would make it difficult for them to obtain a job in the future that requires a security clearance. 39 percent of respondents said that they would be willing to give up cannabis to get a federal job. 18 percent, however, said they wouldn’t. And 15% said they would continue to use marijuana even after obtaining a clearance.

Via Clearancejobs.

Most of the panelists were unsure about the cannabis policy. Sixteen percent of the panel said that marijuana use would automatically disqualify applicants for clearance. 37 percent stated that there is no impact on eligibility, while 24 percent claimed that it was one factor that’s considered.

There is also confusion regarding the policies that apply to people with security clearances. Nine percent of respondents said they could use cannabis anywhere. Thirty-one percent responded they could use it in a jurisdiction where it’s legal.

Only 4 percent of participants correctly responded to both questions regarding the rules for security clearances that apply to applicants and those already cleared.

The survey included interviews with 905 adults aged 18-30 in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. California, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and California were also interviewed. The interviews were conducted in February. The margin of error for this survey is +/-3.23 percentage points.

Drug Use Confusion Trips Up Cleared Candidates – https://t.co/CbBqiHX3Dk #clearancejobs

ClearanceJobs April 20, 2020

Although federal marijuana prohibition policies remain strict, different agencies have begun to relax their requirements in response to the legalization of marijuana by more states.

The U.S. Secret Service , for example, recently updated its policy on employment to be more accommodating of applicants who have previously used marijuana. Candidates of any age are now eligible after one year. There were previously stricter restrictions based on age.

ATF has also updated its cannabis rules for job candidates. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has also revised its cannabis rules for job applicants.

Marijuana Moment obtained draft documents late last year that showed the federal Office of Personnel Management was proposing to replace several job application forms in a manner that would deal with past cannabis use much more leniently under current policy.

In 2021, the Biden administration implemented a policy that allows waivers for certain workers admitting to previous marijuana use. However, certain legislators have called for further reform.

At a hearing in Congress on marijuana legalization last year, Rep. Jamie Raskin said that he planned to introduce a bill protecting federal employees from being denied clearances for marijuana.

The nation’s largest federal employee union adopted a resolution last year in support of marijuana’s legalization, and called for an stop to policies that penalize federal employees when they use cannabis responsibly in states where the drug is legal.

In 2021, the director of national Intelligence (DNI), said that federal employers should not reject security clearance applications based on past use. They should also use discretion with those who have cannabis in their stock portfolios.

The FBI updated its hiring policy that same year, so that candidates were only disqualified if they admitted to using marijuana within a year before applying. Prior to this, potential employees of the agency were not allowed to have used cannabis in the last three years.

In 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which regulates its workforce, announced that it would no longer test drivers for CBD . DOT, however, has recently reaffirmed that its workforce is not allowed to use marijuana, and continues to be tested for both THC and CBD regardless of the state cannabis policies.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, sent a letter last year to the head of DOT stating that the policies regarding drug testing for commercial drivers and truckers are costing people jobs without need and contributing to supply chains issues.

The Environment Protection Agency has also made it clear to its employees, that marijuana use is not allowed and neither are investments in the cannabis industry. This applies regardless of state laws or any changes in “social standards” surrounding cannabis.

The Biden administration has implemented a policy that allows for discretion in federal employment, and if a person discloses their past marijuana use. However, this policy is under fire by advocates after early reports claimed the White House had fired or punished dozens staffers who told the truth about their marijuana history.

Jen Psaki, then White House Press Secretary, tried to minimize the fallout but without much success. Her office issued a statement 2021 that stated that no one was terminated for “marijuana use from years ago” or “due casual or infrequent usage during the previous 12 months.”