The Hiring Process
Drug Policy For ATF Applicants
(The term applicant refers to any individual that has applied for a direct hire Government position with ATF)
An applicant for an ATF position may not have illegally used any Schedule I through Schedule V controlled substance during the past 10 years and not more than minimal experimental usage during his/her lifetime. Schedules I through V as defined in the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C., Section 812, include but are not limited to, cocaine, crack, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), amphetamines, methamphetamines, heroin, and anabolic steroids. Although Schedule I includes marijuana, ATF’s drug policy on marijuana usage is set forth below.
An applicant for an ATF position may not have illegally used marijuana within the past
3 years and not more than limited experimental usage during his/her lifetime. The various forms of marijuana include cannabis, hashish, hash oil, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in both synthetic and natural forms.
An applicant for an ATF position may not have illegally used a controlled substance (including marijuana) while employed as a law enforcement officer or in a prosecutorial position or while employed in a position of public safety, or while maintaining a security clearance for access to National Security Information (NSI).
With the exception of experimental usage as noted above, an applicant for an ATF position may not have violated any provision of the Controlled Substances Act, including but not limited to, the illegal sale or manufacture of a controlled substance or conspiring to illegally sell or manufacture controlled substances.
An applicant for an ATF position may not intentionally misrepresent his/her drug usage.