MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS SHOULDN'T PROHIBIT FINANCIAL AID

Current federal laws prevent anyone with a drug conviction even a
nonviolent one from receiving financial aid for college.

With Americas rising drug problem, the logic behind the law is obvious,
deter young people from engaging in drug activities by threatening their
chance to go to college.

However, the law is seriously flawed.

Individuals with convictions involving marijuana should not be lumped
into the same category as those convicted of selling crack or crystal
meth. These are very different drugs, with very different effects on
society.

As usual, Americas one size fits all drug policies treat all crimes as
equal, even when they clearly are not.

A recently released study shows that nearly 190,000 students have been
turned down for financial aid since the federal government added a
question that asks students if they have a drug conviction to federal
financial aid forms.

The study, released by Students for Sensible Drug Policy, shows that
one in every 400 students is refused financial aid when they answer
yes to this question.

Not answering the question wont make a difference a student will only
be automatically disqualified from receiving aid. Those with
convictions can regain their aid eligibility by completing a drug
rehab program that includes random drug tests.

Although illegal, marijuana does not wreak havoc on individuals,
families and entire communities the way other drugs are known to. Why
then, is it grouped in with other more dangerous drugs?

Under age drinking is a huge problem in America, particularly on
college campuses; there arent any policies that keep minors caught
drinking from receiving financial aid. This is not to advocate for
marijuana use, this is to simply point out how unfair it is to subject
someone convicted of smoking a joint to the same fate as someone
convicted of smoking and selling crack.

As with any legal situation, especially those involving drugs, all of
the circumstances surrounding the case should be considered: one
question on an application should not be enough to determine whether
or not a student gets money for college. If the question isnt going to
be removed from the application altogether, then a second question
should be added, asking the applicant to classify the drug conviction
and list the type of drug and the street value. At least, in this way,
financial aid officials will have a better picture of the crime
committed and can make a more informed decision.

During the 2003-2004 school year, more than 40,000 applicants were
refused financial aid because they had drug convictions. Thats 40,000
students that could have gone on to become teachers, doctors, lawyers
or even President of the United States in short, productive members
of society. Theres no guarantee that these students wont live out
their dreams of finishing college, but one thing is certain: this
current barrier will only make achieving that goal that much more difficult.

Judge Greg Mathis is national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a
national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.