MARIJUANA CHARGES CAN HURT STUDENT'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL,
STATE FINANCIAL AID

Many students in the United States have lost their financial aid due
to the use or possession of marijuana.

According to Tom Angell, campaign director for Student for Sensible
Drug Policy, about 200,000 students in the U.S. were denied financial
aid because of drug convictions.

"Yearly there are about 35,000 students that are denied financial
aid," Angell said. "There have been a few years where the numbers
have dropped, but it mainly stays persistent."

According to the SSDP, Indiana has the highest percentage with 50
percent of its students being denied aid due to marijuana charges,
preceding California with 36 percent. According to the SSDP,
approximately 22 percent of students have been denied federal or
state financial aid in the state of Louisiana. Some students on
Southern University's campus agree that financial aid should be
denied if students have been convicted for using or possessing illegal drugs.

"Students who are convicted of marijuana or any drug possession
should not obtain financial aid because it does not seem fair to
those who are trying to stay in school," said Latoya Magee, a
sophomore elementary education major form New Orleans. "If they are
awarded financial aid then they're being encouraged to do it."

Although some students at Southern agree that financial aid should be
denied to marijuana users or obtainers, other students seem to think
it is unfair to be denied aid.

Brandy Haydel, a junior sociology major from Metairie, said,
"Penalizing those who have been convicted is one thing, but to stop
them from furthering their education is a bit outrageous and unfair."

A few students agree with Haydel and argue that financial aid should
not be denied to those students.

"It's not like the money will be going to their habit," said Vallen
Braden, a sophomore nursing major from Houston. "Who's to say that
the money they get in a refund will be used for marijuana?"

According to officials in the Office of Student Financial Aid at
Southern, the majority of students who attend the university aren't
denied aid because of drug charges because drug related issues can be
difficult to properly prove.