Should Convicted Drug Users Get Financial Aid?

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, more than 45,000 students in the United States have lost their federal financial aid this year (2002) because of a law, passed by Congress in 1998, that denies financial aid to any student who has ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs. According to one financial aid counselor, the law is saying "You messed up, so we are not going to help you." Some say that the law prevents people from rehabilitating themselves by going to college. Others say that former drug users and dealers don't deserve financial aid paid for with taxpayer money.

In a well-organized essay, answer the following question:

In your opinion, should students who have been convicted of using or possessing drugs be denied financial aid to go to college? Why or why not? If you think that some, but not all, students who have had drug problems in the past should be eligible for aid, explain what criteria you would use to determine who should get aid and who should not.