In October 1998, lawmakers signed into the already existing Higher Education Act, a provision prohibiting government financial aid to students charged with drug convictions. Under this provision, students are prohibited from receiving aid for one year after their first offense and two years after their second.

In addition to withholding aid from students, the act requires students already receiving aid to notify their financial aid adviser and pay back the money that they have already received if found newly convicted. Multiple offenses can result in permanent loss of aid.

[continues 560 words]