What could be more ridiculous or unfair than denying college aid only to drug offenders, including those convicted for small amounts of pot, while allowing aid to be granted to those convicted of violent crimes?

We're bumping our earlier post on the 87,000 students being denied financial aid due to a mis-interpreted drug law. Sixty-seven members of Congress have co-sponsored a bill (H.R. 786) to repeal the law, but it has yet to receive a hearing. 30,000 students are affected in the 2002-2003 school year alone.

From NORML today:

"The provision, spearheaded in 1998 by Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), withholds grants, loans or work assistance from anyone convicted of a drug offense, including the misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Those applicants convicted of other crimes, including violent crime, remain eligible."

In recent years, the Department of Education has interpreted the provision as meaning that any applicant with a prior drug conviction is ineligible to receive financial aid. The provision's sponsor has since alleged that he never intended to make the law retroactive. Nevertheless, Souder has done little to support legislative efforts to amend it."

"Currently, legislation introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) to repeal the ban is pending before Congress. Sixty-seven members of Congress have co-sponsored the bill (H.R. 786), although it has yet to receive a hearing."

Here's a letter you can send to your member of Congress in support of H.R. 786.