DRUG HISTORY AND FBI EMPLOYMENT: WOULD YOU PASS THE TEST?

WASHINGTON -- The FBI, whose fabled G-men for years have cultivated a
straight-laced and scrupulous image, says it might relax hiring rules
against prior use of marijuana and other illegal drugs for some
prospective employees.

The FBI says it's having trouble finding enough qualified applicants
with squeaky-clean pasts to fill such important positions as
intelligence analyst, linguist, computer specialist and accountant.

So let's say you're applying for a job there now -- what sorts of
questions about your past will you face? What will your answers mean
about your prospects? And what about other federal agencies -- could
you get a job in, say, the Drug Enforcement Administration? The CIA?

Here are the types of questions facing recruits. Most are about drug
use -- but even if you're clean, don't rest on your laurels. The last
couple of questions show that the bureau has other concerns too.

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Did you use illegal drugs in high school or college?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: You still could get hired even under today's tough
anti-drug rules inside the FBI. Most government agencies won't
automatically disqualify you for a job if you only experimented with
marijuana on limited occasions a long time ago.

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Did you use marijuana more than 15 times in your life?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: This is where the new proposal comes into play.
The FBI is banned from hiring anyone who admits to using marijuana
more than 15 times. The Drug Enforcement Administration only permits
"limited youthful and experimental use of marijuana," but doesn't
specify how many times are allowed. The FBI wants to adopt a relaxed
standard already used by most U.S. intelligence agencies, such as the
CIA, which considers the circumstances surrounding a person's prior
drug history, such as when it occurred and in what settings.

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Have you used marijuana recently?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: You're probably out of luck. Most government
agencies will not hire you if you admit recent marijuana use and most
agencies require drug tests, some of which can detect marijuana use
up to three months earlier. The FBI is banned from hiring anyone who
admits to using marijuana within the past three years, and it
requires applicants to take a polygraph test on this subject.

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Have you ever used "harder" drugs than marijuana, such as cocaine?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: The government generally takes a tougher view of
harder drugs. The DEA, for example, automatically rejects anyone who
admits to using harder drugs than marijuana even one time; the FBI is
banned from hiring anyone who admits to using hard drugs more than
five times or within the past 10 years, although this could be
relaxed under the new proposed rules.

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Have you ever sold any illegal drug for profit?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: The government also takes a dim view of this. Most
agencies hiring for any sensitive jobs, including the FBI, are banned
from hiring anyone who admits this.

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Have you run up your credit cards? Ever missed a payment?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: For sensitive jobs, such as at the FBI or CIA,
high debt can represent a security risk because it could make a
federal agent more susceptible to bribes. Missed payments can suggest
irresponsibility.

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Have you ever belonged to a group dedicated to overthrowing the U.S.
government? Have you ever engaged in acts designed to overthrow the
government by force?

IF YOU ANSWER YES: Answering yes probably won't make you any friends
with the recruiter, but remarkably the government allows for such an
answer. It does, however, ask for additional details about your
involvement with such groups, prompting applicants: "explain in the
space below."

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AP reporter and asap contributor Ted Bridis feels confident that he
would qualify for a position with the FBI.