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ISCR Case 21-00558 — CASE

ISCR Case 21-00558denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 21-00558

deniedJan 7, 2022· Hon. Richard A. Cefola· hearing

Summary

A 39-year-old defense contractor with a Master's degree was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from multiple drug policy violations, including the cultivation and sale of marijuana while he held a security clearance.

Specifically, the applicant cultivated marijuana for approximately two and a half years, from November 2016 to May 2019, and sold it on two occasions in 2018, all while possessing classified access. He also admitted to marijuana use from November 2004 to November 2006, and on at least two occasions between March 2017 and March 2019, again while cleared. The applicant acknowledged knowing these actions violated federal drug policy.

Despite completing drug awareness courses and expressing an intent to abstain from future drug use, the judge found the applicant's recent actions, particularly the cultivation and sale of marijuana while holding a clearance, raised significant security concerns. Consequently, the request for security clearance was denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to cultivating and selling marijuana while holding a security clearance.
The applicant's drug involvement occurred while he was granted access to classified information.
The applicant's recent drug use and violations raised significant security concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)appliedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)appliedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 25(f)appliedIllegal Drug Use While Granted Access to Classified Information

Mitigating

AG ¶ 26(a)rejectedBehavior Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's drug involvement was too recent to mitigate concerns.
AG ¶ 26(b)rejectedAcknowledgment and Actions Taken to Overcome Drug InvolvementThe applicant's recent violations did not establish a pattern of abstinence.

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMay 31, 2021
Answer filedJul 7, 2021
Hearing heldOct 22, 2021
Decision dateJan 7, 2022

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Impact of Recent Drug Violations on Security Clearance Eligibility
Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant's drug involvement, specifically with marijuana, was significant and occurred while he held a security clearance. The applicant cultivated and sold marijuana, as well as used it daily for a period, which was contrary to federal drug policy. The judge concluded that the applicant's recent drug activities were too concerning to mitigate, resulting in a denial of security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant cultivated marijuana from about November of 2016 to May of 2019, a period of about two and a half years, which he knew was contrary to the Federal drug policy, and while granted access to classified information.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Regular	Denied	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.b	Applicant sold marijuana on two occasions, to the same individual, in 2018, which he knew was contrary to the Federal drug policy, and while granted access to classified information.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Denied	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.c	Applicant first used marijuana, at times daily, from about November 2004 to November 2006, when he was in his 20s. He also used marijuana on at least two occasions during the two year period from about March 2017 until March of 2019, while granted access to classified information.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Frequent	Denied	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.d	Applicant knew that his most recent usage was contrary to the Federal drug policy.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Drug InvolvementWHILE CLEARED	Unspecified	Denied	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline H). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 21-00558 ) ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Aubrey De Angelis, Esquire, Department Counsel For Applicant: Ryan C. Nerney, Esquire Applicant’s Counsel January 7, 2022

STATEMENT OF CASE

CEFOLA, Richard A., Administrative Judge: On August 19, 2019, Applicant submitted his Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP). On May 31, 2021, the Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DODCAF) issued Applicant a Statement of Reasons (SOR) detailing security concerns under Guideline H. The action was taken under Executive Order 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; Department of Defense Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the Adjudicative Guidelines effective June 8, 2017. Applicant answered the SOR in writing on July 7, 2021, and requested a hearing before an administrative judge. The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) received the request on August 23, 2021. I received the case assignment on August 23, 2021. DOHA issued a Notice of Hearing on September 2, 2021, and I convened the hearing as scheduled on October 22, 2021. The Government offered Exhibits (GXs) 1 and 2, which were received without objection. Applicant testified, called one witness to testify on his behalf, and submitted Exhibits (AppXs) A through Q, without objection.

DOHA received the transcript of the hearing (TR) on November 1, 2021. Based upon a review of the pleadings, exhibits, and testimony, eligibility for access to classified information is denied.

FINDINGS OF FACT

In his Answer to the SOR Applicant admitted the factual allegations in Paragraph 1 of the SOR, with explanations. He also provided additional information to support his request for eligibility for a security clearance. Applicant is 39 years old, married, and has two children. He has a Master’s of Business Administration degree. He works for a defense contractor. (TR at page 24 line 6 to page 27 line 19.) Guideline H – Drug Involvement 1.cand 1.d. Applicant first used marijuana, at times daily, from about November 2004 to November 2006, when he was in his 20s. He also used marijuana on at least two occasions during the two year period from about March 2017 until March of 2019, while granted access to classified information. (TR at page 38 line 10 to page 45 line 23, and at page 55 line 7 to page 56 line 9.) Applicant knew that his most recent usage was contrary to the Federal drug policy. (Id.)

1.a. Applicant cultivated marijuana from about November of 2016 to May of 2019, a period of about two and a half years, which he knew was contrary to the Federal drug policy, and while granted access to classified information. (TR at page 28 line 12 to page 33 line 22, and at page 68 line 24 to page 69 line 19.)

1.b. Applicant sold marijuana on two occasions, to the same individual, in 2018, which he knew was contrary to the Federal drug policy, and while granted access to classified information. (TR at page 33 line 23 to page 38 line 9, and at page 66 lines 7–20.)

Applicant has, since May of 2019, completed drug awareness courses. (TR at page 49 line 24 to page 50 line 24, and AppXs J and P.) He has also been evaluated for drug abuse. (TR at page 51 lines 1–21, and AppXs L and M.) Applicant has formally eschewed any future illegal drug abuse. (AppX B.)

POLICIES

When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines (AG). In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are useful in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for access to classified information.

These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, administrative judges apply the guidelines in conjunction with the factors listed in AG ¶ 2 describing the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision. According to AG ¶ 2(a), the entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the whole-person concept. The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires that “[a]ny doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.” In reaching this decision, I have drawn only those conclusions that are reasonable, logical and based on the evidence contained in the record. Likewise, I have avoided drawing inferences grounded on mere speculation or conjecture. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.14, the Government must present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, an “applicant is responsible for presenting witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by the applicant or proven by Department Counsel, and has the ultimate burden of persuasion as to obtaining a favorable clearance decision.” A person who seeks access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence. This relationship transcends normal duty hours and endures throughout off-duty hours. The Government reposes a high degree of trust and confidence in individuals to whom it grants access to classified information. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to protect or safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation as to potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified information. Section 7 of Executive Order 10865 provides that decisions shall be “in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also EO 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information).

ANALYSIS

Guideline H - Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse The security concern relating to the guideline for Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is set forth at AG ¶ 24: The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances

that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual's reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any "controlled substance" as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above. The guideline at AG ¶ 25 contains seven conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying. Three conditions are established: (a) any substance misuse (see above definition); (c) illegal possession of a controlled substance, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia; and

(f) any illegal drug use while granted access to classified information or holding a sensitive position. Appellant smoked, cultivated and sold marijuana over a two and a half year period while holding a security clearance. Therefore, AG ¶ 25 (a), (c), and (f) are established. The guideline at AG ¶ 26 contains four conditions that could mitigate security concerns. Two conditions may be applicable: (a) the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; and (b) the individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, including, but not limited to: (1) disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts; (2) changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; and (3) providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that

any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security eligibility. Although Applicant signed an April 2021, sworn statement of intent as to future drug involvement (AppX K), his involvement, while holding a security clearance, is too recent to mitigate the Government’s concerns. Drug involvement and substance misuse is found against Applicant.

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

Under the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance by considering the totality of an applicant’s conduct and all the circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at AG ¶ 2(d): (1) the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct; (2) the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation; (3) the frequency and recency of the conduct; (4) the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct; (5) the extent to which participation is voluntary; (6) the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes; (7) the motivation for the conduct; (8) the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and (9) the likelihood of continuation or recurrence. AG ¶ 2(b) requires each case must be judged on its own merits. Under AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant eligibility for a security clearance must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole person concept. I considered the potentially disqualifying and mitigating conditions in light of all the facts and circumstances surrounding this case. Applicant is well respected in the workplace. (TR at page 13 line 17 to page 23 line 3, and AppXs D, I and Q.) Overall, however, the record evidence leaves me with questions and doubts as to Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. For all these reasons, I conclude Applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns arising from his drug involvement and substance abuse.

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by ¶ E3.1.25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are: Paragraph 1, Guideline H: AGAINST APPLICANT Subparagraphs 1.a~1.d: Against Applicant

_________________

CONCLUSION

In light of all of the circumstances presented by the record in this case, it is not clearly consistent with the national interest to grant Applicant national security eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Richard A. Cefola Administrative Judge