STUDENTS AND DRUGS

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) recently won a lawsuit
against the Department of Education, which applied a $4,000 fee to a
Freedom of Information request made by the group.

The government justified the fee because the information was not in
the interests of the public and may be used for commercial gain.

The information pertained to a state-by-state breakdown of the number
of students refused financial aid because of drug convictions.

The government agreed to waive the fee and provide the organization
with the requested data by March 31, or face losing the case.

The data showed that more than 200,000 people nationwide have their
financial aid affected because of drug convictions.

SSDP and the American Civil Liberties Union launched separate
lawsuits last week to challenge the constitutionality of preventing
students from obtaining aid if convicted of drug crimes.