In the past two weeks, the FBI updated their application policies for potential agents. This includes cannabis use. Previously, the agent application asked if a candidate had used cannabis in the last three years. If a candidate answered yes, then they were automatically disqualified as potential agents. Now the application says, “Candidates cannot have used marijuana or cannabis in any form (natural or synthetic) and in any location (domestic or foreign) within the one (1) year preceding the date of their application for employment.” 

This is a way the agency is loosening their policies to better accommodate potential agents and not punish them for their previous cannabis use. Strangely, the agency didn’t make a formal announcement on this policy change. However, the FBI Chicago Twitter account did allude to the changes made. 

Changes

Additional changes came to the application as well. One section states cannabis usage “before the candidates’ 18th birthday is not a disqualifier for FBI employment”. In addition, “adjudicative personnel will evaluate the candidate by using the ‘whole-person’ concept”.

Cannabis use isn’t the only change that the FBI is looking into or has enacted. A year ago, the FBI announced they would look into a policy change for CBD products. The potential change would allow current employees to use CBD while employed with the agency. “The policy regarding CBD oil is currently under review,” FBI Newark tweeted during a Q&A session in April 2020.

Future

This cannabis policy change is a welcomed event for candidates, the country,  and for former Director James Comey. In 2014, the director made headlines when he spoke about the need to change the cannabis policy. “I have to hire a great work force to compete with those cyber criminals and some of those kids want to smoke weed on the way to the interview,” Director Comey said.

Unfortunately, full policy changes will most likely be several years away. “The FBI is firmly committed to a drug-free society and workplace,” the application site states. “The FBI balances the needs of the organization and the importance of keeping the public integrity necessary to accomplish its law enforcement and intelligence missions by hiring the most qualified candidates.”

Other federal agencies continue to impose strict cannabis and CBD prohibition policies for agents and employees. Nonetheless, the FBI is making the first moves. Federal reform is happening as more and more states are legalizing medical and recreational cannabis and the public is changing their viewpoint on cannabis as a whole.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.