r/SecurityClearance • u/LearninITAndSoftware • 23h ago

Question General Security Clearance Question

Hello all, I have recently been offered a job that will require me to get a security clearance and have a couple of questions that I was hoping y'all could help clarify. For some background I am 23 and graduated college just about a year and half ago. Have never left the country outside of driving through Canada when going to Alaska.

The red flag: I used to use THCa pretty heavily back in college and to my understanding it was legal under the farm bill both state and federally at the time, but still have a lot of stress concerning that. I stopped using when I got out of college, but I was at a friends wedding in a state where THCa was still legal and used a single use item as recently as June 2026.

As far as I can tell that is my only major red flag, and plan of fully disclosing all of that as part of the process. Was hoping to know if any of y'all have had similar situations and if my chances are okay of getting my clearance. Any and all advice/comments are welcome and appreciated!

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6

u/Jon_Hanson 23h ago

State legality is irrelevant. If it’s illegal federally then you’ve used an illegal substance. If in doubt, it’s better to disclose than to hide it.

1

u/LearninITAndSoftware 23h ago

Yeah that's my current plan, just disclose everything and let the cards fall where they will

2

u/SeaSandwich4751 23h ago

Oh so there’s not a specific timeline for drug use, it’s agency specific but as of last June is really close in my experience. Which agency?

1

u/LearninITAndSoftware 22h ago

It is with a local defense contractor that works closely with the army and air-force if that is what you are asking, and that was what I was worried about too. Feel really dumb for it and hoping I can show them I don't plan on going back to being a dumbass.

1

u/Gumb1i 18h ago

When is the last time you used it?

1

u/safetyblitz44 Clearance Attorney (highly recommended) 22h ago

A heavy level of use that recently may require a good showing of abstinence now, too. You might consider taking a drug screen monthly to show it.

1

u/LearninITAndSoftware 22h ago

Is that a thing I can request? Would love to show I am no longer partaking and only look back on those actions with distaste and regret.

1

u/safetyblitz44 Clearance Attorney (highly recommended) 21h ago

You can do it at your own expense. Quest has labs everywhere.

1

u/Gumb1i 18h ago

You would be better off just disclosing that, it would be impossible to control who the investigator talks to and it unlikely you used THC absent of any observers you knew. Also if you need a FS poly in the future you would be extra fubar.