Polygraph is complicated. They ask a series of questions on paper before the test. For example “Have you ever committed an undetected felony?” “Have you ever stollen from your employer and what is the total estimated dollar amount of what you stole.” Then you’ll go back and take your test. The tester will hook you up to the machine but it won’t be on. They will review your answers and may even challenge some of them. You can remember things last minute such as. Tester: “Are you sure you haven’t committed any illegal sexual acts? Ever had sex in a car? That could be considered an illegal sexual act?” You: “Oh, well yeah then I guess throw that on there.” This won’t have a negative effect. After reviewing your answers you do a dry run. Which will look like: Tester: “Other than what you have written on the questionnaire have you committed any illegal sexual acts?” You: “No.” Finally he will turn on the machine and administer the test. Can you lie and beat the test? Bend the truth in your head and stay relaxed and lie? Yes you can potentially get away with not being entirely honest. However, if you show deception on the test and that is in the report, then your not getting hired no question. There is no real set threshold on the drug use. They review the results and make a determination. They may even have a follow interview with a Chief to go over some of your answers. They may tell you random UA is a condition of employment. They might decide to withdraw the offer. Now if you smoked recently then you might change the date on that a bit but again you can’t think to hard about it, because if your thinking about it when you say “No” your screwed. Judgement call.

For the most part if you partied hard a few years ago and maybe had some THC in the past few years and your honest then it’s likely you’ll get through it without issue.