5 ms·

When it comes to cannabis, that obviously isn't much of a factor. How the hell could someone be blackmailed over weed? Most people that use, don't care who know

When it comes to cannabis, that obviously isn't much of a factor. How the hell could someone be blackmailed over weed? Most people that use, don't care who knows, certainly not enough to literally commit treason to your country to hide it. I think the major problem is just in principle: it's federally illegal so if you use it you are a criminal thus can't hold clearance

robotnikman 3y ago
I could imagine it would have been a problem many decades ago in the past when social norms were different. But yep, nowadays it's really no big deal and pretty normalized.
monksy 3y ago
> How the hell could someone be blackmailed over weed? Legal in your state, eh who cares. Working for FBI/CIA/NSA.. most people don't care for state level repercussions. But KGB threatens (oh they would for funsies) to reach over to talk to CIA that you're in violatoin.. bang loss of job, questioning of your prior work, legal consequences (you lied to get the job), etc... That's the threat.
volkl48 3y ago
It being federally illegal and something you're prohibited from doing while employed with the federal government means it's at least usable as a mild form of blackmail/leverage if they have evidence you currently use it. Current use = you're fired + lose your security clearance. Sure, I don't think most people are going to pick "here's the nuclear codes Mr. KGB agent, just don't tell them about the weed!", but it's enough of an opening to convince some people to divulge some information that they shouldn't. Add on a few more vulnerabilities - maybe they're struggling a little financially and their job skills don't translate well outside their current government role, and just the threat to their job security can be something significant. ----- Obviously, federal legalization would basically solve this issue.

5 ms·

When it comes to cannabis, that obviously isn't much of a factor. How the hell could someone be blackmailed over weed? Most people that use, don't care who know

by standardly 3y ago

robotnikman 3y ago
I could imagine it would have been a problem many decades ago in the past when social norms were different. But yep, nowadays it's really no big deal and pretty normalized.
monksy 3y ago
> How the hell could someone be blackmailed over weed? Legal in your state, eh who cares. Working for FBI/CIA/NSA.. most people don't care for state level repercussions. But KGB threatens (oh they would for funsies) to reach over to talk to CIA that you're in violatoin.. bang loss of job, questioning of your prior work, legal consequences (you lied to get the job), etc... That's the threat.
volkl48 3y ago
It being federally illegal and something you're prohibited from doing while employed with the federal government means it's at least usable as a mild form of blackmail/leverage if they have evidence you currently use it. Current use = you're fired + lose your security clearance. Sure, I don't think most people are going to pick "here's the nuclear codes Mr. KGB agent, just don't tell them about the weed!", but it's enough of an opening to convince some people to divulge some information that they shouldn't. Add on a few more vulnerabilities - maybe they're struggling a little financially and their job skills don't translate well outside their current government role, and just the threat to their job security can be something significant. ----- Obviously, federal legalization would basically solve this issue.