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ISCR Case 25-00646 — CASE

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ISCR Case 25-00646

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

Case Profile
Decision Date2/10/2026
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Eric H. Borgstrom
Government Counsel: Andre M. Gregorian
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 27-year-old systems engineer who had previously held a secret security clearance. The Department of Defense (DOD) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing security concerns under Guideline H, which pertains to drug involvement and substance misuse. The core allegations included the applicant's admission to using marijuana on three occasions while possessing a security clearance, which violated federal drug laws and DOD policies.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to the marijuana use and provided explanations for each instance, asserting that she had not intended to use marijuana in the future. She acknowledged her awareness of the prohibition against drug use for clearance holders and expressed regret for her lapses in judgment. The applicant also highlighted her positive changes, including increased responsibilities at work, passing drug tests, and a commitment to abstaining from illegal drugs in the future. She submitted character references from colleagues that praised her integrity and performance.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that she had mitigated the security concerns related to her drug involvement. The judge noted the applicant's acceptance of responsibility, her demonstrated commitment to abstaining from illegal drug use, and her positive professional reputation, which collectively indicated a low risk of future substance misuse. Consequently, the applicant was granted eligibility for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · For Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 25-00646

grantedFeb 10, 2026· Hon. Eric H. Borgstrom· hearing

Summary

A 27-year-old systems engineer was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The applicant admitted to using marijuana on three occasions, twice while already holding a secret clearance. These admissions raised disqualifying conditions related to drug involvement.

However, the decision to grant the clearance was based on several mitigating factors. The applicant fully acknowledged her past drug use and expressed a firm commitment to abstain from illegal drugs in the future. Her most recent use occurred nearly two years prior to the decision, and she has since distanced herself from associates who use drugs.

Furthermore, the applicant demonstrated significant personal and professional growth, taking on increased responsibilities at work and receiving positive feedback from colleagues. These factors collectively indicated a positive change in behavior and a commitment to security guidelines, leading to the granting of her security clearance.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant acknowledged her past drug use and expressed a commitment to abstain from illegal drugs in the future.
She demonstrated significant personal and professional growth, including increased responsibilities and positive feedback from colleagues.
The applicant's most recent drug use occurred nearly two years prior, and she has distanced herself from drug-using associates.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Mitigating

AG ¶ 26(a)appliedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Happened Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
AG ¶ 26(b)appliedThe Individual Acknowledges His or Her Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse, Provides Evidence of Actions Taken to Overcome This Problem

Key Rule Quoted

“The entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the 'whole-person concept.'”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJun 24, 2025
Answer filedJul 14, 2025
Hearing heldDec 17, 2025via video teleconference
Decision dateFeb 10, 2026

Cite For

Mitigation of Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Importance of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions
Consideration of Personal Growth and Responsibility in Adjudications

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: granted

The judge found that the applicant admitted to using marijuana on three occasions, including twice while holding a security clearance. Despite this, the judge concluded that the applicant mitigated the security concerns related to her drug involvement by acknowledging her lapses in judgment and expressing intent to abstain from illegal drug use in the future. The outcome of the case was granted.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant admitted using marijuana on three occasions, including twice while she possessed a secret clearance.	For Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Admitted	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	(a) behavior happened long ago / infrequent / unlikely to recur (c) prescription abuse followed a prolonged illness and has since ended	Documented Abstinence Period Documented
1.b	Applicant admitted using marijuana on three occasions, including twice while she possessed a secret clearance.	For Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Admitted	(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	(a) behavior happened long ago / infrequent / unlikely to recur (c) prescription abuse followed a prolonged illness and has since ended	Documented Abstinence Period Documented

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.