Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jan 2002
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2002 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Adam B Wiggins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n005/a07.html

DRUG VIOLATION SHOULD NOT KILL COLLEGE AID

The author of the editorial, "College: "Those who sell drugs should 
not get federal aid" is slightly confused about the Higher Education 
Act, which bans anyone with a drug conviction from gaining student 
aid.

It's not just drug dealers; it's anyone who has ever smoked a single 
joint of marijuana.

Denying people a good education is no way to keep them off drugs. 
Even the law's author, Mark Souder, is upset with the Bush 
administration's draconian enforcement of the law, and claims that it 
goes beyond his original intent.

Given that our last two presidents have admitted to experimenting 
with illegal drugs in the past, it seems obvious that a person can go 
on to live a full and productive life despite some youthful 
experimentation.

I urge all citizens who support education for our youth to contact 
their House representative and ask them to support HR 786, which will 
repeal this portion of the Higher Education Act.

Adam B. Wiggins
Pasadena, Calif.
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MAP posted-by: Josh