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

marijuanamoment.net

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

#71

Post by GenerocUsername »

awithrow wrote: post #47
tough wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the CIA expects you to be smart enough to lie to them about not breaking the rules to hire you in the first place?

Nope, that's typically a deal breaker. It's the stuff they find out that you didn't want them to know that can get you blocked. The thinking is that if an adversary finds it out, they could use it as leverage against you. I've held clearances in the past and was forthcoming about marijuana use. It largely comes down to the judgement of the investigator. I'm really not surprised that some people have been bounced for…

But the leverage is granted by the CIA being strict in the first place. If it wasn't a condition of denial it wouldn't be a condition of denial and wouldn't hold the leverage power it is meant to curb. Crazy

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

#72

Post by tomrod »

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?

Yes and no. It's very minor outside of the US except for some island nations in the Pacific.

Mormon membership numbers of actual adherents are likely 20% to 40% of membership claimed based on "inactivity" rates (and people leaving).

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

#73

Post by kmeisthax »

TomK32 wrote: post #35
qbasic_forever wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I understand it the drug use screening in a security clearance isn't so much because the government are squares but it's that illegal drug use is something that could be used to blackmail you. The worry is if the KGB learns about your cocaine habit they could confront you and demand you work for them as a double agent or they'll expose your illegal activities and ruin your life.

Work as a double agent then: make the FSB think they got you and feed them false information. Your own service obviously has to keep a no-drugs policy front to make your situation more legit.

That works up until they realize you're leaking false information and you wind up having a bunch of polonium accidentally show up in your bloodstream.

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

#75

Post by mrguyorama »

jedberg wrote: post #46
chrisfosterelli wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. It's not clear to me how these would have absolutely any relationship at all.

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.

Real intelligence gathering isn't James Bond.

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

#76

Post by jrflowers »

chrisfosterelli wrote: post #43
VeninVidiaVicii wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> 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. It's not clear to me how these would have absolutely any relationship at all.

Weed is ubiquitous enough in American culture these days that it’s not unreasonable to associate “I’ve never tried cannabis” with religious orthodoxy or some other conservative behavior-limiting values. It’s not uncommon to hear something along the lines of old DARE talking points about gateway drugs or schizophrenia from people that have refused to try it, which can make a person seem like a… square.

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

#77

Post by mrguyorama »

tracker1 wrote: post #15

Or... just decriminalize it altogether, including forgiveness of past use.

As long as republicans continue to say no to that, it's impossible to do. Democrats basically never have actual control over the American Government, it's happened like 4 years out of the past 20, and that's not a new phenomenon. Even in the times they have had "full" control of all portions of government, republican senators are still able to "block" stuff through made up rules and "norms" that democrats don't want to break, because that gives republicans cart blanche to break those same rules in a way that can do a lot more harm. Also like 4 of the democrats that are part of the "majority" for various reasons like to be contrarians to the rest of the party, meaning even the few times there have been a majority of democrats in the senate, there has not been consensus in the party for basically anything since probably FDR.

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

#78

Post by Gibbon1 »

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.

[flagged]

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

#79

Post by mrguyorama »

janalsncm wrote: post #58
gremlinsinc wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah, it's too hard a drug -- makes people too violent, and abusive... oh sorry. That's alcohol.

It’s ironic that the CIA may ask people to travel to countries where alcohol is illegal but don’t disqualify for it.

I mean, typically spying in another country is outright illegal, so the CIA is asking you to commit crimes in other countries as a matter of course.

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

#80

Post by jedberg »

mrguyorama wrote: post #75
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.

Real intelligence gathering isn't James Bond.

A lot of it is not, but there are agents who do James Bond like things (although not that dramatic).
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