How to Become a DEA Agent in Frederick, Maryland by Meeting Requirements

Frederick, Maryland was recently in the news for banning a popular synthetic drug. In October 2012, Frederick banned “Spice,” which was being sold at the time in at least six of the city’s stores. The drug was smoked similarly to marijuana, producing the same sorts of effects, but was more dangerous, according to health professionals.  It was causing users to become violently ill on the streets of Frederick, which is only the third city in Maryland to ban Spice. The ban of Spice produced mixed reactions in Frederick, with some city residents saying that Spice kept teenagers away from using more serious drugs such as alcohol and marijuana.  Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Frederick and other parts of Maryland are watching the situation closely to see if the drug should be banned in other parts of the state.

Drug Enforcement in Frederick

In addition to Frederick DEA special agents, other law enforcement officials work to enforce drug laws in Frederick. The City of Frederick Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit conducts searches and seizures and arrests individuals possession, selling and/or using illegal drugs in the city. As of 2005, according to Uniform Crime Reporting data, about 13.8 percent of all arrests in Frederick County were drug-related. Over sixty percent of these arrests were due to marijuana sale and/or possession.

According to the 2011 Crime in Maryland report by the Governor’s office, drug arrests in Frederick County actually declined by 6.6 percent between 2010 and 2011. Drug arrests for possession also declined by 8.5 percent during this period of time.

Medical Marijuana in Frederick

As of 2013, Maryland’s legislature is considering a bill that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes. This could greatly impact the city of Frederick, where marijuana is the most commonly possessed illegal drug. Under a similar, related bill, possessing a small amount of marijuana would no longer be a crime, greatly reducing the number of drug possession arrests in cities like Frederick where marijuana is the drug of choice. Those possessing less than 10 grams of marijuana, under this proposed bill, would no longer face up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. However, possessing any amount of marijuana, whether for recreational or medical purposes,  would remain illegal under federal law, even if Maryland’s marijuana possession laws do change.

How to Become a DEA Agent in Frederick

Frederick is under the jurisdiction of the Washington, D.C. Division of the DEA. In order to become a DEA agent in Frederick, one must meet certain requirements. In addition to being between the ages of 21 and 36 and a U.S. citizen, one must have a bachelor’s degree and/or experience, or an advanced degree, or special experience in investigating drugs and/or narcotics. Specific qualification information for Frederick DEA jobs and careers is listed on this webpage.

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