A new report says California is leading the nation in denying college aid to students with drug convictions. Now the American Civil Liberties Union is getting involved. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy released the report after obtaining the data through the Freedom of Information Act. The group found more than 30 thousand students have been declared ineligible for federal aid. The group has joined forces with the ACLU to strike down the rule. Spokesman Tom Angell says people should not be punished twice.
Angell: "They've already been arrested fined an perhaps sent to jail. And so taking away their access to education in addition to that - ios not only to the counterproductive to the aim of reducing substance abuse - but its unconstitutional because it punishes students twice for the same crime."
Texas and Florida also deny financial aid to many college students with drug convictions. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
