A place to ask questions and share advice about the security clearance process.
Question
I have exactly 3 references that aren't relatives and know me well outside of work/school settings. I'm sure two of them still smoke at least somewhat regularly (we don't ever discuss it) but they live in completely different states from me; we do not even have the opportunity to see each other in person, and just keep in touch by text and the ultra rare occasional phone call.
Do I need to try to come up with different references? I'm not even sure who else I could list that isn't a relative... I just moved to where I live a little over a year ago and have literally made no friends here that are not coworkers... I stick to family these days.
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Can you clarify your concern?
The form does not, to my knowledge, require that your references must be substance-free. This is a non-issue.
So in many of the threads and posts I’ve read through online, I’ve seen several instances of people saying they stopped smoking marijuana AND no longer associate with those they smoked with. I smoked for years (quit in 2018), and with both of them. I had inferred from what I’ve read that it may not be good to use them as references.
I think this is more of a concern if you stopped smoking marijuana, say, last month and you were trying to create mitigation between you and marijuana usage. In your case, you already have the biggest mitigating factor—time. You haven’t used in 6 years.
Both my neighbor references are marijuana users, and at least one of my personal references is. All of them know why I choose not to partake.
The government doesn’t care about them, they care about you.
Cutting association with marijuana users is a bigger concern if you previously were one and are doing that to mitigate.
One of my references definitely was not substance free. I don't think this was a requirement. I did pick references who either knew I no longer smoke weed or didn't have that history with me in the first place.
I was not asked not to associate with my people either. That's gotta be something they say to younger folks to throw them? I'm in my 40s. I don't need to cut ties to abstain, lol.
I’ve been a reference for someone and was never asked any questions about my own substance use
It will only really matter if your references volunteer that they use. We don't ask about references use of drugs, but if they volunteer it, we have to report that. Assuming you don't smoke with them, report would read something like "Source volunteeres that Source smoke marijuana weekly; however, Source believes Subject has never used any illegal drugs, to include marijuana."
That’s not an issue. Just don’t go telling the investigator more than they need to know haha. Just put your references down and nothing else
One of my references smoked pretty heavily. Even smoked with him a few times a couple years prior to my investigation (of which I disclosed, of course). As long as everything else in your investigation is in line having references who smoke isn’t going to disqualify you.
The section is not called “references”, it’s called “people who know you well”. We don’t give a rats ass whether you list some deadbeat stoner or you list a senator as long as they know you well and answer the phone.
Fair enough.
senators are vile individuals, I would not list them.
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