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ISCR Case 24-01252 — CASE

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ISCR Case 24-01252

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date3/19/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Darlene Lokey Anderson
Government Counsel: John B. Renehan
Case Summary
Applicant, a 36-year-old Software Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, sought a security clearance after beginning employment with a defense contractor in March 2023. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) on August 22, 2024, citing concerns under Guideline H, Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse. The allegations included the applicant's use of controlled substances, specifically THC gummies, which she had consumed weekly since June 2020, and her false response on the security clearance application regarding illegal drug use.
During the hearing, the applicant admitted to using THC gummies and acknowledged her misunderstanding of their legality under federal law, claiming she believed they were permissible since they were legal in her state. She expressed remorse for her actions and stated that she had ceased using THC since December 2023, opting instead to manage her depression through therapy and medication. The applicant provided several letters of recommendation that attested to her professionalism and work ethic, reinforcing her commitment to not repeat past mistakes.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that the mitigating factors outweighed the disqualifying conditions. The judge noted the applicant's proactive steps to address her substance use, her lack of intent to engage in illegal drug use in the future, and the positive testimonials from colleagues that highlighted her reliability and integrity. The decision emphasized the importance of the applicant's demonstrated commitment to compliance with laws and regulations, ultimately favoring her eligibility for a security clearance.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-01252

deniedMar 19, 2025· Hon. Darlene Lokey Anderson· hearing

Summary

A 36-year-old Software Engineer was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) due to consistent marijuana/THC use. The applicant admitted to using THC gummies weekly, specifically on Friday nights, from June 2020 until December 2023. This 3½-year period of use, possession, and purchase of marijuana/THC occurred while the applicant held a security clearance and was employed in a sensitive position, and after receiving security briefings.

The denial was based on several factors, including the applicant's ongoing illegal drug use while holding a clearance and her admission of providing a false answer on her security clearance application regarding this drug use. The administrative judge determined that these actions demonstrated poor judgment and unreliability.

Consequently, the judge concluded that granting a security clearance to the applicant would not be consistent with the national interest. The decision cited Disqualifying Conditions AG ¶ 25(a), AG ¶ 25(c), and AG ¶ 25(f).

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to using THC gummies weekly from June 2020 until December 2023, while holding a security clearance.
The applicant provided a false answer on her security clearance application regarding illegal drug use.
The applicant's illegal drug use occurred while she was employed in a sensitive position and after receiving security briefings.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 25(f)raisedIllegal Drug Use While Holding a Sensitive Position

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 issuedAug 22, 2024
Answer filedSep 11, 2024
Hearing heldFeb 26, 2025
Decision dateMar 19, 2025

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Impact of False Statements on Security Clearance Eligibility
Consideration of Poor Judgment and Unreliability 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 use of marijuana, specifically THC gummies, from June 2020 to December 2023 raised significant concerns regarding her reliability and trustworthiness. The applicant's conduct was deemed troubling, particularly as it occurred while she held a security clearance, leading to a decision against her on all allegations related to drug involvement.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	The Government alleges that the Applicant has used controlled substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose; and that she has engaged in conduct involving questionable judgment, which can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Drug InvolvementWHILE CLEARED	Unspecified	Unknown	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant began using marijuana, namely THC gummies in June 2020. She continued to use them on a weekly basis, once a week, on Friday nights.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Unknown	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant used marijuana/THC during a 3½ year period from 2020 to December 2023. During this period, she also possessed and purchased marijuana/THC.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Regular	Unknown	—	—	—

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.