Pubdate: Sun, 09 Oct 2005
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2005 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribune.com/dynamic/feedback/form.php?opinion=1
Website: http://www.startribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266

FBI MAY RELAX HIRING RULES ON MARIJUANA USE

WASHINGTON - Just Say No is still the doctrine, but the FBI may decide
it's OK that some applicants didn't heed Nancy Reagan's advice once or
twice in college.

Senior FBI managers have been deeply frustrated that they could not
hire applicants who acknowledged occasional marijuana use in college,
but in some cases already perform top-secret work at other government
agencies.

Some officials want to ease limits about how often - and how many
years ago - applicants for jobs such as intelligence analysts,
linguists, computer specialists, accountants and others had used
illegal drugs.

FBI Director Robert Mueller will make the final decision. "We can't
say when or if this is going to happen, but we are exploring the
possibility,'' spokesman Stephen Kodak said

The rules, however, would not be relaxed for FBI special agents who
conduct most criminal and terrorism investigations. Also, the new plan
would continue to ban current drug use.

Current rules prohibit the FBI from hiring anyone who used marijuana
within the past three years or more than 15 times ever. They also ban
anyone who used other illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, within
the past 10 years or more than five times.

The new FBI proposal would consider the circumstances of a person's
previous drug use, such as their age, and the likelihood of future
usage. The relaxed standard already is in use at most other U.S.
intelligence agencies.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin