Anonymous wrote:Are you kidding me? No, you can't. As a cleared employee, you are subject to random drug testing. You are taking your chances. Good luck explaining that your positive result was because you were chewing on coca leaves in Peru.

I'm asking- I didn't say I was going to take it. Relax!

I was in Peru on vacation a few years before the pandemic and rant into this situation. Upon research I learned that Coca leaves is illegal in the USA. So I decided not to have the leaves in any form. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re actually worried about altitude sickness, there is medication you can take for that (diamox/acetazolamide) without worrying about risking your security clearance. You can get it with a prescription in the states, but it’s available over the counter in Peru.

Seconding this. I have no idea why you'd bypass a clinically proven, easily available treatment in favor of a folk remedy that could cost you your clearance. Any travel med doc will prescribe altitude drugs, and probably most GPs too.

If you’re actually worried about altitude sickness, there is medication you can take for that (diamox/acetazolamide) without worrying about risking your security clearance. You can get it with a prescription in the states, but it’s available over the counter in Peru.

This study might be interesting to you. It suggests that the tea has pretty high levels, and would show in a urine test. But cocaine has a decently short half life (unlike marijuana) in your system, so if you're drinking it on day 1 of a 14 day vacation, you might be fine. I assume at DOJ you also don't get randomly tested very often.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705900/

I would ask

I would think you can. It’s not cocaine. I did it when I was there - I was altitude sick.

Are you kidding me? No, you can't. As a cleared employee, you are subject to random drug testing. You are taking your chances. Good luck explaining that your positive result was because you were chewing on coca leaves in Peru.

As your HR or security people and get it in writing.

No its fine

I work for DOJ have TS/TSI clearance. Apparently people chew on coca leaves and have coca tea to help with altitude sickness. I’m assuming I can’t partake?