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ISCR Case 25-00954 · CASE

ISCR Case 25-00954denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 25-00954

deniedJun 5, 2026· Hon. Richard A. Cefola· hearing

Synopsis

The applicant, a 29-year-old manufacturing engineer, faced security concerns under Guideline H due to drug involvement, specifically marijuana and hallucinogenic mushroom use. Despite acknowledging her drug use and expressing intent to abstain, the judge found that her continued substance misuse raised significant doubts about her reliability and trustworthiness, leading to a denial of her security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to using marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms while holding a sensitive position.
The applicant's drug use occurred within a timeframe that raised questions about her reliability and trustworthiness.
The applicant did not provide sufficient evidence of rehabilitation or a pattern of abstinence from drug use.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Key Rule Quoted

“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.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedNov 14, 2025
Answer filedJan 2, 2026Applicant requested decision on written record.
Hearing held—No hearing; decided on written record.
Decision dateJun 5, 2026

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Impact of Recent Drug Use on Security Clearance Eligibility
Failure to Establish a Pattern of Abstinence From Substance Misuse

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: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on allegations of drug involvement under Guideline H, specifically for using marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms while holding a sensitive position. The applicant admitted to the drug use but failed to mitigate the security concerns, leading to a denial of eligibility for access to classified information.

1.a Marijuana use from December 2015 to June 2023 (including while holding a sensitive position January – June 2023).
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Frequent
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25):
(a) any substance misuse
(c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia
(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.b Use of “mushrooms” while holding a sensitive position from May – August 2023.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: PsilocybinWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Occasional
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25):
(a) any substance misuse
(c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia
(f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Marijuana use from December 2015 to June 2023 (including while holding a sensitive position January – June 2023).	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Frequent	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia (f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.b	Use of “mushrooms” while holding a sensitive position from May – August 2023.	Against Applicant	PsilocybinWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia (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

_____________________________________ ______________ ______________ DEFENSE LEGAL SERVICES AGENCY DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: )

)

) ISCR Case No. 25-00954

)

) Applicant for Security Clearance ) _____________________________________ ) Appearances For Government: Brittany C. White, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se 06/05/2026 Decision CEFOLA, Richard A., Administrative Judge: Applicant did not mitigate the security concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse). Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Statement of the Case Applicant submitted a Questionnaire for National Security Positions on November 11, 2023 (Questionnaire). On November 14, 2025, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to Applicant detailing security concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse). The action was taken under Executive Order 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information Within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the adjudicative guidelines (AG) effective within DoD after June 8, 2017.

On January 2, 2026, Applicant responded to the SOR in writing (Answer) and requested that this case be decided on the written record in lieu of a hearing. In her Answer, she admitted to the drug use allegations in the SOR. On February 27, 2026, Department Counsel submitted the Government’s written case in a File of Relevant Material (FORM). A complete copy of the FORM, consisting of Government’s Exhibits (GE) 1 to 4, and the Government’s arguments in support of the SOR, was received by the Applicant on March 11, 2026. Applicant was afforded an opportunity to file objections and submit material to refute, extenuate, or mitigate the security concerns, but did not respond within the specified 30-day period. The case was assigned to me on June 1, 2026, and all exhibits were admitted without objection. Findings of Fact Applicant is 29 years old and has worked for a DoD contractor since 2020 as a manufacturing engineer. She previously applied for and obtained a security clearance in 2020, also in connection with this employment. Applicant received a bachelor’s degree in 2020. She is single and has no children. (GE 3 at 5, 13-14, 23, 67-68; GE 4 at 9-11) SOR Paragraph 1, Guideline H ( Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) The Government alleged that Applicant is ineligible for a security clearance because she used marijuana from December 2015 to June 2023, including while holding a sensitive position from January to June 2023. The Government further alleged that Applicant used “mushrooms,” while holding a sensitive position, from May – August 2023. Based upon the evidence presented in the administrative record, I find the following facts regarding the history and status of Applicant’s drug use:

1.a. Marijuana use from December 2015 to June 2023 (including while holding a sensitive position January – June 2023). In her Answer, Applicant admits to the allegation as drafted. In her Questionnaire, Applicant acknowledged recreational use of marijuana in college from 2015 – 2018. She stated that her intent was to never use the drug again but nonetheless used it three to four times in 2023 “in social situations” – including with a friend she still socializes with. She explained that she “always regretted it after using it,” but nonetheless used it again several times in “moments of weakness.” In her discussions with a DoD investigator on April 23 and May 14, 2024, she admitted knowing she had a security clearance and knowing her use of the drug was unlawful. Applicant reasserted her intent to never use marijuana again. (Answer, GE 3 at 63-64; GE 4 at 10-12) 2

1.b. Use of “mushrooms” while holding a sensitive position from May – August 2023. In her Answer, Applicant admits to the allegation as drafted. In her Questionnaire, Applicant acknowledged two uses of hallucinogenic mushrooms in 2 023: once in May and once in August. Each use was at a concert with a friend and each use made her “feel cloudy.” Applicant again attributed her decisions to “moments of weakness” each time and vowed to avoid social environments “that can lead to those types of things.” In her discussions with a DoD investigator on April 23 and May 14, 2024,

she admitted to both knowing she had a security clearance and knowing her use of the drug was unlawful. Applicant expressed her intent to never use hallucinogenic mushrooms again. (Answer; GE 3 at 65-66; GE 4 at 10-12) Whole Person and Mitigating Evidence Applicant submitted no comments or explanations in her Answer as whole person evidence in mitigation of the security concerns alleged in the SOR. The comments and explanations Applicant included in her Questionnaire, discussions with the DoD investigator, and interrogatories, however, were reviewed in their entirety. Policies When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for national security eligibility, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines (AG) list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s national security eligibility. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, these guidelines are applied 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. The entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of applicable guidelines in the context 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 national security is of paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires, “Any 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. I have not drawn inferences based on mere speculation or conjecture. Directive ¶ E3.1.14, requires the Government to present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, “The 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 national security eligibility. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the 3

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 or sensitive information. Finally, as emphasized in Section 7 of Executive Order 10865, “Any determination under this order adverse to an applicant shall be a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also Executive Order 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information.) Analysis SOR Paragraph 1, Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) The security concerns relating to the guideline for drug involvement and substance misuse are set out in AG ¶ 24, which reads as follows: The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription an

dnon-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 facts of this case establish the following potentially disqualifying conditions set forth in AG ¶ 25: (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. Applicant admits to using both marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms – including while holding a sensitive position. Consequently AG ¶¶ 25(a), (c), and (f) apply. The burden then shifts to Applicant to mitigate security concerns under Guideline H. The guideline includes the following conditions in AG ¶ 26 that can mitigate security concerns arising from Applicant’s drug use: 4

(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 the 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. Applicant’s college marijuana use, on its own, could potentially be mitigated by the application of time. After stating she had an intent to abstain, she started her job with a DoD contractor and applied for – and received – a security clearance. Following that, she made the decision on more than one occasion to both use marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms “in moments of weakness.” Thus, on five separate occasions, Applicant made decisions that raised profound questions about her ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Applicant’s drug involvement continues to cast doubt on her current reliability, trustworthiness, and good judgment. Accordingly, none of the mitigating conditions, individually or collectively, are sufficiently applicable to overcome the issues surrounding Applicant’s drug involvement. Whole-Person Concept Applying the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for national security eligibility by considering the totality of the applicant’s conduct and all relevant 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. 5

Under AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant national security 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 above whole-person factors and the potentially disqualifying and mitigating conditions in light of all pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding this case. I have given the appropriate weight to Applicant’s statements to a DoD investigator, as well as those included in her Questionnaire and her responses to interrogatories. Overall, however, the Guideline H issues in the record evidence leave me with questions and doubts as to Applicant’s suitability for national security eligibility and a security clearance. 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.b: Against Applicant Conclusion In light of all of the circumstances presented by the record in this case, I conclude that it is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security to grant Applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. RICHARD A. CEFOLA Administrative Judge 6