Oklahoma Senator Calls for Reversal of Border Patrol’s Marijuana Policy
In a bold move, Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford is urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to reverse its recent policy change regarding past marijuana use for Border Patrol agent recruits. Lankford, in a letter to CBP’s senior official, expressed his concerns about the potential security risks posed by the new policy.
The current policy, which now only bars applicants from having used marijuana within the 90 days prior to applying to work for CBP, has raised alarm bells for Lankford. He argues that this change undermines the security and integrity of the Border Patrol workforce and contradicts the agency’s mission to protect the nation against illegal drugs.
Lankford’s office revealed that the policy shift from a two-year lookback on marijuana usage to just 90 days occurred within the past few months. Despite the senator’s call for a reversal, CBP has not provided any comment on the matter.
The senator highlighted the confusion between federal and state laws in states where marijuana has been legalized as the rationale behind CBP’s policy change. However, Lankford emphasized that as a federal agency, CBP must ensure its personnel comply with federal laws regarding controlled substances.
With the border becoming a significant issue across the country, especially leading up to the November election, Lankford’s concerns about the potential security risks posed by the new policy are timely. He pointed out that recruits who admit to past marijuana usage during polygraph tests often also confess to other disqualifying criminal conduct, raising further red flags about the policy change.
As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Governmental Operations and Border Management, Lankford holds jurisdiction over federal hiring and border management. He stressed that Border Patrol’s primary mission is to stop the flow of illicit drugs and illegal immigration, a mission that could be compromised by the new policy on marijuana use for recruits.
In light of these concerns, Lankford called for the reinstatement of the two-year lookback on marijuana usage among Border Patrol recruits, citing the potential security and integrity issues posed by the current policy. As the debate over marijuana legalization continues to unfold across the country, the implications of CBP’s policy change on Border Patrol recruitment remain a topic of significant interest and debate.
