WHAT A BUMMER: GET BUSTED FOR SMOKING POT...AND LOSE YOUR STUDENT LOAN.

Under legislation passed by the House of Representatives, any student
convicted of possession or sale of an illegal drug would no longer be
eligible for any federal grant, loan or work study money. First-time
offenders merely caught using drugs would lose their aid for a year,
second-timers would lose their aid for two years. Those convicted of dealing
drugs would face a two-year suspension after the first offense and be banned
for life for a second one. NORML, the National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws, expects the restrictions, which were tacked on to the
Higher Education Reauthorization Act, to become law before the end of the year.

"From what the Democrats are telling me, there's no way to get it out of
there," said Keith Stroup, NORML's executive director. "This has come up
before, but usually it gets weeded out." Stroup objects to the legislation
because it singles out nonviolent drug offenses for harsh penalties. "If a
student is falling-down drunk and drives, no problem," he said. "If a
student commits a violent crime, no problem.

But if students get arrested for a joint, they lose their student aid."

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett