We're waiting for a change in the posture against cannabis at the Federal level [1], but it has been possible to get a security clearance even if you have used marijuana. Looking at the public guidelines [2] there's a distinction between "ever" and "in the last 90 days".
Yes the Feds are really hamstrung by weed being a schedule 1 substance. It’s asinine
Especially, if as the article claims, they want to clear college students.
When I went through this, the guidance was that pot usage was ok as long as it was in the past and not chronic usage. Just say you haven’t been near it in years, but yes you did it. They’re going to interview everyone you’ve ever known that they can find, so just don’t lie about it.
How many college students can claim this? Weed is everywhere now.
Fact is, it’s schedule 1. If you are willing to break this law, what other very serious crimes are you willing to commit?
And if Palantir refused to hire software devs who have smoked weed, that would disqualify 80% of the talent pool in Silicon Valley.
The overwhelming public support for marijuana is the main marker to consider when psychoanalyzing why someone is willing to break one law but maybe/maybe-not others.
The dominant perception among tech talent is the law hasn’t kept up with the times.
Drawing conclusions about one’s choice to use or try marijuana is perceived as unacceptable cultural behavior that is not currently within the modern scope of what we could refer to as "Overton’s window".
I’m a little odd. I reply to my own messages occasionally and that could suggest I’m unhinged.
However, like many others here, I’m authentic in disclosing this awareness of perception and not deterred from doing it simply because it is not normal.
In a world where outliers are red flags, everyone is dripping in sweat to be perceived as not only normal but qualified. That’s enough to send electro-dermal activity through the roof imo.
A truly authentic person should be able to sit in that chair and comfortably tell the hard truth.
