cannabisnews.com: Anti-Drug Law Hurts Some Students 





Anti-Drug Law Hurts Some Students 
Posted by FoM on December 28, 2001 at 11:45:28 PT
By Arlene Levinson, AP National Writer
Source: Associated Press
Efforts to ease a ban on federal financial aid for college students with drug convictions have reached an impasse. So far this school year, more than 43,000 would-be college students face the possible denial of financial aid under a law passed in 1998. The chief lobbying group for colleges and universities would like the ban repealed, as would students on nearly 200 campuses who have organized to fight it. 
Federal officials said they had hoped to ease the ban through administrative action but could not find a way. They said it is up to Congress instead to amend the law. "We looked in every nook and cranny," Education Department spokeswoman Lindsey Kozberg said.The department reads the law as saying anyone with a prior drug conviction may be ineligible for aid.But Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., the author of the law, said the Bush administration is being tougher on applicants than he intended. He said he wanted the ban to apply only to students already getting federal aid when convicted.Souder's staff met repeatedly this year with Education Department officials to try to bring enforcement in line with what he says Congress intended. Earlier this month, the government told Souder it couldn't do it.In reply, the congressman accused the Bush administration of a "simply shocking" defiance of Congress and threatened to hold oversight hearings.Kozberg said the department is ready to help Souder fashion a change he can give to Congress.Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., already has introduced repeal legislation. But when Congress might take up the issue is unclear, especially with the country engulfed in the war on terrorism.The ban involves a small fraction of the more than 10 million people who annually fill out the application for federal grants, work-study money or U.S.-subsidized loans. Question 35 asks: "Have you ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs?" Those who answer "yes" get a second worksheet asking for details.For a first drug-possession offense, ineligibility lasts a year after conviction; for a second offense, two years. More convictions bar aid indefinitely. But a single drug sale conviction means no aid for two years afterward; more convictions and the ban lasts indefinitely.Those facing loss of aid indefinitely can, however, get that lifted by undergoing drug rehabilitation.Of 9.8 million aid applicants so far for the 2001-02 school year, 43,436 were either turned down for all or part of the year, or risk automatic denial for not answering the question.The American Council on Education, representing major colleges and universities, has blasted the restriction as "double punishment" and complained that it discriminates against poorer people, since more affluent ones do not need financial aid."Far more serious crimes do not carry the automatic denial of student aid," said Terry Hartle, senior vice president. He said he is not trying to minimize drug abuse, but "we wouldn't care if the whole provision went away."On the Net:American Council on Education: http://www.acenet.edu Government questionnaire: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw0102/q35pdf.htmNewshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch IINORML Media & CommunicationsSource: Associated PressAuthor: Arlene Levinson, AP National WriterPublished: Friday, December 28, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Associated Press Related Articles:High on Stupidity http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11592.shtmlFinancial Aid Bill Needs Revisionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11396.shtmlCollege Financial Aid Rule Attacked http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11309.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on December 29, 2001 at 14:37:13 PT
Doonesbury and Ashcroft and God
So now it's been finally acknowledged in mainstream American culture that there is a war on marijuana users.Ashcroft is doing what God sent him to do.WAKE UP THE LIBERALS to the harsh realities of marijuana prohibition!!God works in mysterious ways.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 29, 2001 at 12:42:55 PT
Doonesbury Cartoon
Hi Everyone, I've been busy but not with news since it is slow but check out today's Doonesbury Cartoon. I put it on my What's New page.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/whatsnew.htm
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Comment #4 posted by boppy on December 29, 2001 at 12:17:38 PT
Some of us in Indiana are embarrassed...
Speaking for myself and many other rational people, we are embarrassed by the representation of the likes of people like Mark Souder. He occupies the seat once controlled by Dan Quayle (another buffoon). Add to the list Congressman Steve Buyer who advocated using small nuclear arms in Afghanistan! Dan Burton may be the top "boob" from the Hoosier state. Remember when his son (not the illigitimate one) Danny Jr. got busted for cannabis possession back in 1994? After his son was arrested in Louisiana in January 1994 for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, Congressman Dan Burton (R-Ind.) stated: "Any time one of your children gets into this kind of trouble, it's horrible for the parents" according to James Bovard's article in Playboy, April 1997.Bovard explains that young Dan Burton II and a friend "were coming from Houston, where they paid $6,000.00 for the drugs." Burton could have faced many months in federal prison, but "was sentenced to only five year's probation, 2000 hours of community service, three years of house arrest and random drug screening" by Louisiana officials.When Burton was arrested five months later for growing 30 marijuana plants in Indianapolis, he could have faced five years in federal prison under federal mandatory minimum rules, according to Bovard. But this case was also tried at the state level, with the prosecutor throwing out all charges.Would this happen to you or me?? Hell, no! So, please don't let these morons be a reflection on the whole state of Indiana.
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Comment #3 posted by ekim on December 29, 2001 at 10:39:33 PT:
MI: Petition Drive Targets Drug-Sentencing Policy
US MI: Petition Drive Targets Drug-Sentencing Policy
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n2112/a06.html
Newshawk: Help us Help Reform http://www.drugsense.org/mission.htm 
Pubdate: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI) 
Copyright: 2001 Detroit Free Press 
Contact: letters freepress.com 
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125 
Website: http://www.freep.com/ 
Author: Dawson Bell 
Discuss: this item on the Drug Policy Forum of Michigan's action oriented email list. Sign up at www.drugsense.org/dpfmi 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm 
(Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act) 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/soros.htm (Soros, George) 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/sperling.htm (Sperling, John) 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?168 (Lewis, Peter) 
PETITION DRIVE TARGETS DRUG-SENTENCING POLICY California Group Wants Michigan To Scale Back Mandatory Life Terms A well-financed, California foundation with a track record of success on ballot proposals around the country has launched an effort to scale back Michigan's tough mandatory drug-crime sentences. A petition drive to amend the Michigan Constitution is to begin this weekend and is aimed at putting the question before voters in November 2002, said Dave Fratello, political director for the Campaign for New Drug Policies. A formal campaign kickoff is expected in January, he said. Fratello described the initiative as "a complete overhaul of drug policies in Michigan." It will target the state's drug sentences, which require judges to impose minimums of up to life without parole. Eaton County Prosecutor Jeff Sauter, immediate past president of the state prosecuting attorneys association, said he had not seen specifics, but "if it's anything like California, it's a bad idea." The Campaign for New Drug Policies advocates treatment for first- and second-time low-level drug offenders and more judicial discretion in sanctions for drug dealers. A similar proposal it backed in California in 2000 won with 61 percent of the vote. Fratello said the campaign has been involved in 19 proposals -- involving medical marijuana, drug asset forfeiture and sentencing changes -- since 1996, and that 17 of those were approved by voters. The campaign is paid for by financier George Soros, education entrepreneur John Sperling and Ohio businessman Peter Lewis. Fratello declined to estimate how much would be spent on the Michigan initiative, one of three state proposals the group is backing in the 2002 election cycle, but he said the campaign spent $3.5 million in California last year. Adequate financing virtually guarantees the group will be able to collect enough signatures, 302,711, to make the ballot, he said. Sauter, the prosecutor, said many of the attacks on Michigan's current sentencing guidelines are misguided. Judges and prosecutors already show significant discretion, he said. Still, Sauter said: "Prosecutors would be willing to look at any proposal." Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Matt Davis said fewer than 5,000 of the state's 47,000 prison inmates are serving time for drug crimes, and the number of first-time offenders is virtually nil. The Campaign For New Drug Policies Web site can be found at http://www.drugreform.org. 
 
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on December 29, 2001 at 10:27:53 PT:
Ann Arbor has oked tickets for small amounts
One of the best ideas in reform has been where the towns have allowed a ticket for cannabis use. Ann Arbor has had such a law for 30 years. The people voted many moons ago to protect there young adults as they ventured forward in the world looking for anwsers to there questions of who we are. Then along comes some low life that wants to put his stamp on all that has been done saying all those 30 years in Ann Arbor were for nothing. Like saying the earth is flat when all clearly can see for themselvs -- who is lying. What gets me going today is that we here in MI. are being told that people from CA. are comming here and are paying for a ballot petition drive which still keeps us as criminals. One that says that first time and second time users will get treatment. What happen to the 280,000 here who said no your not a bad person and I will sign a petition to that effect. www.prayes.com 
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on December 28, 2001 at 13:51:02 PT
Souder should be recalled due to incompetence
But Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., the author of the law, said the Bush administration is being tougher on applicants than he intended. He said he wanted the ban to apply only to students already getting federal aid when convicted.This man's job is to write legislation. That is what people in Congress are hired by the voters to do. If Souder can't even write the legislation he intends to write, then he is fundamentally incompetent at being a legislator and should be sent home ASAP.
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