Pubdate: Mon, 10 Oct 2005
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2005 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Ted Bridis

FBI MAY EASE RULE ON DRUG USE

NEW PLAN WOULD JUDGE APPLICANTS ON `WHOLE PERSON'

WASHINGTON - The FBI, famous for its straight-laced crime-fighting
image, is considering whether to relax its hiring rules over how often
applicants could have used marijuana or other illegal drugs earlier in
life.

Some 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, such as the CIA or State Department.

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,'' said spokesman Stephen Kodak.

The change would 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.

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

The nation's former anti-drug czar said he understands the FBI's
dilemma.

``The integrity of the FBI is a known national treasure that must be
protected,'' said retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, who used to head
the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. ``But there
should be no hard and fast rule that suggests you can't ever have used
drugs. As long as it's clear that's behind you and you're
overwhelmingly likely to remain drug-free, you should be eligible.''

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 judge applicants based on their ``whole
person'' rather than limiting drug-related experiences to an arbitrary
number. It 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: Matt Elrod