In what this writer finds hilarious, the FBI is struggling with finding qualified workers for their cyber crimes division. The problem? Some of the best and brightest IT and ‘hacker’ types apparently love marijuana.
There is a long-standing rule that the FBI will not hire, or even consider, anyone who has smoked weed in the past three years. Admitted FBI direct James Comey, the FBI is “grapping with the question” of allowing a bit of pot leniency.
Are they looking to hire your weed lovers? Probably not, however it does look like law enforcement agencies are warming to the idea that some of their applicants take part in what is now legal in two states, and almost legal in many more.
The director told an audience at the White Collar Crime Institute to “go ahead and apply” even if you’re worried about their 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.”
However, anti-drug senators began to make a ruckus, to the point that now Comey has backpedaled on his previous statements, saying that he is “dead set” against a policy change.
“I did not say that I am going to change that ban.” He said at an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also stated he is “determined not to lose [his] sense of humor.”
Personally, I feel the government has always had a problem with wanting black hat skills and white hat ethics in the same person. This is just an extension of that problem.
