This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fbi-has-a-weed-problem-in-cyberwar-9409739.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
FBI 'weed' problem in cyber-war FBI 'weed' problem in cyber-war
(about 1 hour later)
The United States may have indicted a group of Chinese army officials for cyber-espionage, but the FBI has a problem of its own: weed.The United States may have indicted a group of Chinese army officials for cyber-espionage, but the FBI has a problem of its own: weed.
The bureau is struggling to hire young hackers because its long-standing drug policy does not allow the use of marijuana. Unfortunately, hackers like their weed. According to The Wall Street Journal, director James Comey has acknowledged strict FBI rules about hiring people who smoke cannabis could have complicated efforts to recruit cyber-security specialists.
"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," FBI Director James B. Comey told a White Collar Crime Institute conference on Monday. The agency’s policy prohibits anyone working for it who has used cannabis in the past three years. Unfortunately, hackers like their weed.
Theoretically, the bureau's hiring policy states that applicants cannot use marijuana for at least three years before applying for a job at the FBI. “I have to hire a great workforce to compete with those cyber-criminals, and some of those kids want to smoke weed on the way to the interview,” the newspaper quoted Mr Comey as saying at the White Collar Crime Institute’s annual meeting in New York.
But with 2,000 positions to fill this year, the FBI may have to relax its no-drugs policy if it wants to win the cyber war. Asked by a member of the audience if his stoner friend could apply for a job at the bureau, Mr Comey suggested he "should go ahead and apply", The Wall Street Journal reported. It added that when one person asked how a cannabis-using friend interested in working for the FBI should now act, Mr Comey replied: “He should go ahead and apply.”
“The sort of hackers you want to hire tend to be young; the young tend to have bad habits such as smoking marijuana, and over time you’d expect them to do this less,” Dr Richard Clayton of Cambridge University said.
On Monday, the US laid criminal charges on five Chinese military officials accused of masterminding government-led cyber hacking to steal trade secrets from six major American companies.On Monday, the US laid criminal charges on five Chinese military officials accused of masterminding government-led cyber hacking to steal trade secrets from six major American companies.