At least 175,000 people have been denied federal financial aid since 2000 because of their drug convictions, according to Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, a students' rights advocacy group.

It all began with the Higher Education Act, which originated more than 30 years ago to provide financial aid and improve educational opportunities for low-income populations. In 1998, an amendment to the HEA, known as the Drug Provision, introduced restrictions for students with previous drug offenses. The provision dictates that a student convicted once of possession is ineligible to apply for federal aid for a year. A second possession offense, or one selling offense, means a student is ineligible for two years.

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