How to Become a DEA Agent in Montana by Meeting Requirements

According to information provided by the Montana Department of Justice, the abuse of prescription drugs contributes to the deaths of more than 300 Montana citizens each year. Children in Montana have the third highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the United States. The drugs with the highest rate of abuse in Montana are oxycodone (includes Oxycontin, Percocet and Percodan), hydrocodone (includes Vicodin and Lortab), Fentanyl pain patches and methadone.

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How to Become a DEA Agent in Montana

In order to become a DEA agent in Montana by meeting agency requirements, applicants must possess a bachelor’s or an advanced law degree (think J.D. or L.L.B.) along with a 2.95 GPA.

Law enforcement experience concerned with the investigation of drugs crimes is highly regarded by recruiters looking to fill special agent jobs with the DEA. With this kind of an extensive background in law enforcement, education requirements may be waived.

Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree with a lower GPA than noted above will meet qualifications if they also speak one of several designated foreign languages, OR has flight experience, OR has other specialized skills related to high-needs areas.

Jobs with the DEA in Montana can only be obtained through formal training at the Academy, even for those with experience.

Montana is categorized under the authority of the DEA’s Denver Division. There are two DEA offices within the state of Montana: a Post of Duty in Missoula and a Resident Office in Billings. Recruitment information for Montana DEA careers within these offices and in the remainder of the state is available by contacting Special Agent Michael Moore at (720) 895-4139.

The Issue of Medical Marijuana in Montana

In recent years, the issue of medical marijuana has become a hot topic of debate in Montana. In 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration raided medical marijuana operations across Montana. These shops were located in Missoula, Billings, Helena, Bozeman, and Columbia Falls reported being closed down by the DEA. The question in Montana, as it is in other states, is whether the use of marijuana medically is legal on a federal level. On a state level, a voter initiative in 2004 legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Montana’s DEA agents have also investigated state legislators working on laws to legalize medical marijuana in 2012. Because the federal government’s position on medical marijuana is vague, this leaves control up to states at this point. For now, marijuana is listed among the Schedule I controlled substances, so that makes it federally illegal to use, grow, distribute and possess marijuana for any reason. A representative for the DEA’s Denver Division said that the DEA is concentrating on those who are making a significant profit from medical marijuana, and not necessarily individuals who are sick and using marijuana for medical reasons.

Important DEA Initiative in Montana

The state has instituted Operation Medicine Cabinet Montana to get some of these deadly prescription drugs out of people’s homes. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Montana Department of Justice and local law enforcement collaborate to take back unwanted prescription drugs from Montanans’ medicine cabinets. To make it easier, a list of places where Montana residents can drop off unwanted prescription drugs has been posted online.

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