The FBI, known for its hard nosed and clean cut crime-fighting image, considers relaxing its previous hiring policy for former drug users.

Some senior FBI managers have been deeply frustrated that applicants, who acknowledged occasional marijuana use in college, had to be rejected. Even though in some cases many had performed top-secret work at other government agencies, such as the CIA or State Department.

The change would ease limits on how often and how long ago applicants for jobs like intelligence analysts, linguists, computer specialists, accountants and others, had used illegal drugs.

The rules, however, would not be eased for FBI special agents, aka "G-men," who conduct most criminal and terrorism investigations. The nation's former anti-drug czar said he understands the FBI's dilemma but stresses the prohibition of current drug use.

"The integrity of the FBI is a known national treasure that must be protected," said retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, who used to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. "But there should be no hard and fast rule that suggests you can't ever have used drugs. As long as it's clear that's behind you and you're overwhelmingly likely to remain drug free, you should be eligible."

Current rules prohibit the FBI from hiring anyone who used marijuana within the past three years or more than 15 times ever. The rules also ban anyone who used other illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, within the past 10 years or more than five times.

The new FBI proposal would judge applicants based on their "whole person" rather than limiting drug-related experiences to an arbitrary number. It would consider the circumstances of a person's previous drug use, such as their age, and the likelihood of future usage. The relaxed standard is already in use at most other U.S. intelligence agencies.