Senate votes to let people who’ve used marijuana work at intelligence agencies

Post by jeffreyrogers » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 6:52 PM UTC

chrisfosterelli wrote: post #51

jedberg wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To gather human intel you have to be willing to do things like drink in social situation and (gasp) sometimes do drugs with the people you're trying to collect intel from, to gain their friendship. In other words, you need to have a slightly adventurous personality.

Most people I know who have an adventurous personality don't smoke weed. Drinking I can see a case for as it's so heavily embedded as a social activity. Just anecdotal data I suppose but I'm not seeing a similar connection for having done drugs. Perhaps for someone who is undercover and needs to fit in, sure, but I don't think that predisposes a personality to take drugs in their own time. For both alcohol and drugs…

Post by drewcoo » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 6:57 PM UTC

euroderf wrote: post #32

Marijuana use was mostly OK until Reagan came in. Then DISCO announced a policy change.

Post by dmoy » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 6:58 PM UTC

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #62

crmd wrote: post #57

Marijuana (along with multi-lingualism) is a big reason why the Mormon-American community is significantly over-represented in the US intelligence community.

There are Mormons outside America?

Post by treeman79 » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 6:59 PM UTC

motohagiography wrote: post #28

Let me be the first to welcome people with more diverse substance abuse problems to our beloved secret police. My greatest regret is that I can only declare a mere hour of applause for their great personal sacrifices and worthily earned pensions. Tbh, I kind of liked the idea that decriminalization and liberal attitudes were starving them for talent.

Post by meroes » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 6:59 PM UTC

VeninVidiaVicii wrote: post #30

jeffreyrogers wrote: post #7

You could already get a clearance with past marijuana use (and other drugs) but I guess this would just make it so someone couldn't be denied a clearance solely for that reason.

I got denied an internship at the CIA for my past drug use, which was entirely trying marijuana after it became legal in my home state. I don’t see how someone can possibly be expected to have the personality to gather (human) intel, but somehow not ever have smoked weed.