Drug History

[Lena]

I am 28 years old. I made the poor choice of experimenting with marijuana for the first time in my *entire* life(or any other type of drug) a year ago. I smoked it about 4 or 5 times within a month's time frame. I have not touched it since then.

At the end of that time frame, I was fired from my place of employment for admitting to smoking marijuana. The hotel where a group of us were staying in had complaints of marijuana smells coming from the floor above where I was and contacted our supervisor about it. The supervisor then sat each of us down individually and asked us if we'd smoked any marijuana since we'd arrived. I was not involved in the incident in the hotel, but I told her that I had smoked once outside of the hotel since I had been down there and I was fired. All who lied, kept their job.

I have a clean driving history for the past 10 years.

I pay all bills on time.

I have great references from past employers (aside from the last, of course).

I'm in good physical fitness.

I currently have applications in with some local departments for dispatch- and one CO position with a local PD. The more I think about everything and the more I read here, I fear that I may have wasted a lot of people's time in submitting those applications.

My question: What, if any (and besides the obvious choice of not making the same poor choice I did a year ago), actions should I take within the next couple of years to negate as much as possible the poor choices I made?

I'm 28 years old- should I even be pursuing this career with that poor choice made so late in life?

[CelicaGuy]

Time will be your best asset here. You F'd up and you admitted it good for you. Most departments have a time frame since usage, one year is too short IMO. No, don't give up if you want to be a police officer, 4 or 5 times will not perminatly disqualify you.

[SnapShawt]

Yep, time is going to need to pass. The "standard" time period (give or take) is about 3 years from last use of marijuana. 4 or 5 times in a month is a bit excessive in terms of experimentation. Let some time pass and don't touch the crap again. Definitely something you'll have to think about and eventually explain in any case.

[mcsap]

Besides the minimum clean time needed to prove that you ARE clean , you need to find a set of firends that don't use either. To continue to associate with a bunch of users wil either ...

A. Get you back to using.

B. Will look bad on a background when you hang with a bunch of stoners.

Your choice.

[Johninaustin]

What they said, BTW: I hardly call age 28 "late in life". You are actually in the average cadet age bracket (26-34) ;)

[Lena]

Heard that, Mscap. You hit the nail on the head- I decided to surround myself with the wrong people for a couple of months. I changed that immediately, once I realized I was being a dumbass.

I understand the backgrounds ask for past significant others, roommates, etc. since I filled out my ex's packet since his handwriting was terrible. :rolleyes: With the exception of last year, my background is clear.

Time it is.

Thanks, John, for the age comment! That made my day!

Thanks for the replies... hearing them makes me know that I'm following the right steps, at least.

[EJV]

Hey, I have done a lot of research on N. California agencies and I have seen a few that have a limit of 1 year for marijuana. I have heard of as little time as 6 months but I can't confirm that. But the majority seem to use the 3 year rule and some use 5, 6, or 7 years. Just depends where you are looking. I don't know if dispatch is treated like a sworn position for the background but I would think they are pretty similar anyway.

[Rhinod56]

The good thing you have going, is that your willing to admit it. hopefully it is truly the only time you have used it.
The bad part is most depts I've looked at or applied to won't even look at you if you have used it even just 1x in the last 2-3yrs. And some like AZ say not more than 5x since turning 21.
Time will be your friend, and make sure to make it known that you knew it was wrong, and have been clean since.. Just keep hunting, and applying. Best of Luck

[Lena]

From what I've seen, EJV, most Dispatch postions are treated just as sworn postions as far as the application process goes.

[Lena]

Well, I received my Tscore today: 67

I ranked 3 and they are hiring for 4 positions. I'm going to ride this out and see what comes of it. =)

[Rhinod56]

only time will tell

[Level1Grad]

EJV is right. A number of departments in CA. have dramatically reduced the time for last drug use. Even the CA PHS for dispatchers asks "In the last 6 months have you..." It does go on to ask "prior to the last 6 months have you..." In your case, that might actually hurt you. The BI's I have talked with said the time period was reduced in some agencies because of how normal it is for "kids" to experiment. Your not old, but your also not what could be considered young & dumb.

I would suggest 3 things.
1st, go to the agency's website and look at their qualifications. Just about every department has this category very specifically called out.

Wait 2 years before reapplying. Shows more time as others suggested.

Look at other websites. Also here are some links that can help: You will need to remove the spaces in the URL since I can't post URL's yet.
post. ca. gov/ Hiring/ Dispatchers/
post. ca. gov/ selection/ bim/ bi.pdf

[Lena]

Update: I placed in the top 5 in all my testing- my oral boards must have sucked bc I never made it to backgrounds boooooo. Or someone outshined me- however you wish to look at it.

In my efforts to build my resume- I found that I LOVE being on my feet and actually being in the mess of things at someone's worst 15 mins of their life. I have taken a somewhat different path- EMT. And now, I'm training even further to become an EMT - paramedic.

I haven't decided whether to go the way of police or fire, but I assume by the time I get to apply/possibly get into backgrounds it will have been well over 2 years that I've made my poor choices- with nothing but GOOD choices exemplified by the life I now lead to make up for it.

Wish me luck! -and thanks for all of the feedback. Sometimes TIME can't pass quickly enough :rolleyes:

I am 28 years old. I made the poor choice of experimenting with marijuana for the first time in my *entire* life(or any other type of drug) a year ago. I smoked it about 4 or 5 times within a month's time frame. I have not touched it since then.

At the end of that time frame, I was fired from my place of employment for admitting to smoking marijuana. The hotel where a group of us were staying in had complaints of marijuana smells coming from the floor above where I was and contacted our supervisor about it. The supervisor then sat each of us down individually and asked us if we'd smoked any marijuana since we'd arrived. I was not involved in the incident in the hotel, but I told her that I had smoked once outside of the hotel since I had been down there and I was fired. All who lied, kept their job.

I have a clean driving history for the past 10 years.

I pay all bills on time.

I have great references from past employers (aside from the last, of course).

I'm in good physical fitness.

I currently have applications in with some local departments for dispatch- and one CO position with a local PD. The more I think about everything and the more I read here, I fear that I may have wasted a lot of people's time in submitting those applications.

My question: What, if any (and besides the obvious choice of not making the same poor choice I did a year ago), actions should I take within the next couple of years to negate as much as possible the poor choices I made?

I'm 28 years old- should I even be pursuing this career with that poor choice made so late in life?

[Rhinod56]

IMO fire is where its at, even though I'd still rather be a PO anyday....
Both have ups and downs, just like any job or career though