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Summary

A 34-year-old mechanical technician was denied a security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from her admitted marijuana use while holding a security clearance and her failure to disclose prior drug use on her 2022 Security Clearance Application (SCA).

Specifically, the Statement of Reasons alleged that the applicant failed to disclose drug use on her 2022 SCA, used marijuana in 2021 while already holding a security clearance, and used marijuana from 2008 to 2017, which was also not disclosed on her SCA. These actions raised disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines paragraphs 25(a), 25(c), and 16(a).

The judge determined that the applicant's explanations for her drug use and omissions were not credible or sufficient to mitigate the security concerns. A key factor in the denial was the recency of her marijuana use and the absence of a signed statement of intent to abstain from drug use. Consequently, the security clearance was denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

• The applicant admitted to using marijuana while holding a security clearance.
• The applicant failed to disclose her marijuana use on her security clearance application.
• The applicant's explanations for her drug use and omissions were not credible or sufficient to mitigate concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

“The illegal use of controlled substances...can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness.”

Procedural Posture

• SOR issuedFeb 6, 2023
• Answer filedFeb 20, 2023Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
• Hearing held—Decision made based on written record.
• Decision dateAug 29, 2023

Cite For

• Failure to Mitigate Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
• Deliberate Omission of Drug Use Under Guideline E
• Credibility of Applicant's Explanations Regarding Drug Use