Summary
A 32-year-old security officer was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement), Guideline E (Personal Conduct), and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant admitted to purchasing and using marijuana with varying frequency from July 2016 to December 2024, including while in a sensitive position from March 10, 2020, to January 28, 2021. This included testing positive for marijuana on February 5, 2021, which led to employment termination. Additionally, the applicant was arrested on March 3, 2016, for working in a banned medical marijuana dispensary and for illegal possession of marijuana for sale.
The applicant also falsified material facts on multiple Questionnaires for National Security Positions by denying illegal drug use, illegal purchase of marijuana, and illegal involvement with drugs while possessing a security clearance. While the judge found in favor of the applicant on the personal conduct allegations, the findings against the applicant on drug involvement and criminal conduct remained.
Ultimately, the security clearance was denied. The decision cited the applicant's admitted marijuana use from 2016 to 2024, including while holding a security clearance, and the falsification of information on security clearance applications regarding drug use and involvement. These factors, particularly the recent and sustained drug misuse, raised unresolved doubts about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to using marijuana approximately 20 times from 2016 to 2024, including while holding a security clearance.
- The applicant falsified information on his security clearance applications regarding drug use and involvement.
- The applicant's recent and sustained drug misuse raised doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 25(a)appliedAny Substance Misuse
- AG ¶ 25(c)appliedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
- AG ¶ 25(f)appliedIllegal Drug Use While Granted Access to Classified Information
- AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- AG ¶ 31(b)appliedEvidence of Criminal Conduct
- AG ¶ 26(a)rejectedBehavior Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's drug misuse was frequent and recent.
- AG ¶ 26(b)rejectedAcknowledgment of Drug Involvement and Evidence of Actions Taken to Overcome the ProblemInsufficient time has passed to establish reliability of the applicant's intent to abstain.
- AG ¶ 17(a)appliedPrompt, Good-faith Efforts to Correct Omissions
- AG ¶ 17(c)rejectedMinor Offense or Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's drug use was not minor and continued until recently.
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJul 14, 2025
- Answer filedAug 11, 2025
- Hearing held—Decision made on the written record.
- Decision dateFeb 9, 2026
Cite For
- Denial of Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
- Falsification of Information on Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- Criminal Conduct Impacting Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline J