Non-violent drug related offenses are the only crime severe enough for the federal government to prohibit or revoke a student’s financial aid.

Convicted murderers, rapists, child-molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers have no need to be concerned about being eligible for federal financial aid.

You will lose your federal financial aid for college if you are convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs while receiving financial aid for a period of up to four years.

I have ceased being surprised by such asinine federal flounders while researching and writing reports regarding non-violent crimes and what I refer to as drug prohibition.

Justice is indeed blind if a student convicted of marijuana possession does not merit financial assistance from the federal government and yet a person convicted of a premeditated heinous crime such as murder is.

I do not condone the use of illegal drugs, but I also do not see the point in removing collegiate opportunities from an individual just because they made a mistake or have a problem that requires treatment.

If the idea is to motivate a convicted drug offender to seek help in a rehabilitation or detoxification center then I have to wonder what exactly the lawmakers were thinking. Removing positive sources of influence and education is counter productive to the treatment of drug addiction.

If a student is convicted of a drug offense, loses their financial aid and then does the right thing by seeking help, what is that person supposed to do for the next four years?

It is much easier to continue to make poor choices than it is to face the problem and change.

I believe it would be much more effective to require that students convicted of a non-violent drug related offense receive professional treatment and maintain a predetermined grade point average in order to keep their financial aid.

Guiding someone to make better choices and treating the problem is a proactive solution that would certainly be more productive than turning your back on someone for making a mistake.

Premeditated homicide is not a mistake. There are likely some convicted murderers and rapists that are very likeable and intelligent but I would rather be sitting in class next to a pothead.