Letter to the Editor

War on drugs keeps students out of college

By:

Posted: 10/1/06

Dear Editor,
Thousands of would-be students won't be joining their peers on college campuses across the country this semester because they were convicted of drug offenses and automatically lost their financial aid under a little-known federal law.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy or SSDP, a group with chapters on more than 70 campuses across the country, has been working to overturn the penalty since it was enacted and recently filed a class action lawsuit to challenge its constitutionality.
According to SSDP Director Kris Krane "Students are tired of having our access to education destroyed as collateral damage in the War on Drugs. For too long, the drug war has been waged supposedly to protect young people. But we know firsthand that these punitive policies hurt us instead of help us. We won't allow this war to be waged in our names any longer."
In addition to lobbying for changes in federal law, SSDP students also work to foster sensible drug policies on their own campuses.
Some chapters have worked to stop automatic dorm expulsions, to eliminate parental notification policies, and to prevent schools from punishing student more harshly for marijuana than for underage drinking.
This fall, SSDP is hosting an international conference and congressional lobby day in Washington, DC, November 17-19. Hundreds of students are expected to converge on the nation's capital to learn, lobby, and network with one-another.
"Young people have had it with the War on Drugs. This is our opportunity to take our concerns directly to our lawmakers' doorsteps," says Krane.
Students interested in getting involved with SSDP's efforts to foster sensible drug policies on campus should visit http://www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a national organization with college and high school chapters, is committed to providing education on harms caused by the War on Drugs, working to involve youth in the political process, and promoting an open, honest, and rational discussion of alternative solutions to our nation's drug problems.

Sincerely,
Tom Angell, Campaigns Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
1623 Connecticut Ave NW; Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009

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