cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness





Reefer Madness
Posted by FoM on August 11, 1999 at 16:10:06 PT
By Brian Dupre, Daily Texan U. Texas-Austin
Source: Reuters
(U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas Even potheads should be eligible for federal financial aid.But thanks to Congressman Mark Souder (R-Indiana) they soon won't be. 
The U.S. Department of Education recently proposed rules to implement a law sponsored by Souder that denies federal financial aid to students who have been convicted of a drug offense. The policy will take effect July 1, 2000. If the intent of the law is to weed out financial aid applicants who aren't good students, then it's misdirected. A student should be evaluated on his performance in the classroom -- not by his extracurricular activities. If the intent of the law is to crack down on drug users, then it's unfair. Why should marijuana possession uniquely disqualify a student from financial aid when a conviction for hundreds of other crimes -- some violent -- doesn't? Unfortunately, when government officials start talking about drug offenses, rational thought all too often flies out the window. Whatever the intent, the law is bad public policy. Bluntly put, getting busted with a joint at the Phish show shouldn't be cause to deny a poor student a chance for a college education. A student's academic future shouldn't go up in smoke just because Congress wants to look tough on drugs. The new policy doesn't really come as a surprise. It's only the latest example of a government gone overboard in its zest to "win" the now decades long war on drugs. That's one toke over the line, sweet Jesus! Perhaps it would be better if the government took the $9 billion it spends each year arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana users and spent it on more Pell Grants. Don't expect that to happen anytime soon though. Until we start treating drug abuse as a public health problem -- and not a cause to wage war in our own country -- we can only expect more bad laws like this one. In Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey's speech at the University this Monday, he declined to use military rhetoric and said the "war on drugs" is over. But the new financial aid policy serves as a reminder that the war is still going strong. Sadly, students will soon be the latest casualties. Updated 12:00 PM ET August 11, 1999(C) 1999 Daily Texan via U-WIREhttp://news.excite.com/news/uw/990811/university-31Related Article:U.S. Students To Get Experimental Drug Tests- 8/10/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2431.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: