Act now to protect Maryland's students from bad drug policy
The Marijuana Policy Project is forwarding this alert on behalf of Students for Sensible Drug Policy
You're probably already aware that the federal government denies financial aid to students with drug-related convictions on their records. As a result, tens of thousands of students across the country can't afford college most of them because of a marijuana-related offense.
What you may not be aware of is that Maryland punishes these students even more, by stripping them of state-level financial aid. So anyone with a drug conviction on his or her record is not only ineligible for federal financial aid, but state aid as well. Nearly 3,000 Marylanders have so far been denied financial aid because of this rule.
The majority of drug-related offenses that young people are convicted of have to do with marijuana and most are for possession alone. It is counterintuitive to deny a student the opportunity to go to college because of that person's non-violent, marijuana-related experimentation. Instead, these students should be encouraged to get an education and become productive members of society.
It doesn't make sense for the federal government to follow this policy and it doesn't make sense for Maryland to follow it either. Fortunately, this policy could soon change at the state level: The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering HB 283. The bill would require that the Office of Student Financial Assistance consider applicants for state financial aid even if they were denied federal financial aid for any given reason. Students could only be denied state aid if they fail to qualify under conditions set by the state.
This means that while Maryland's students convicted of marijuana offenses will have their requests for aid ignored by the federal government, the state won't turn its back on them. HB 283 is a great bill, as it would really open doors for thousands of students. The bill currently sits in the House Ways and Means Committee. Please take a few moments to call the committee members and urge them to vote in favor of HB 283.
Del. Sheila E. Hixson chair (410) 841-3469 or (301) 858-3469
Del. Ann Marie Doory vice-chair (410) 841-3476 or (301) 858-3476
Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (410) 841-3107 or (301) 858-3107
Del. Kumar P. Barve (410) 841-3464 or (301) 858-3464
Del. Jon S. Cardin (410) 841-3833 or (301) 858-3833
Del. D. Page Elmore (410) 841-3433 or (301) 858-3433
Del. Ronald A. George (410) 841-3439 or (301) 858-3439
Del. James W. Gilchrist (410) 841-3744 or (301) 858-3744
Del. Carolyn J. B. Howard (410) 841-3919 or (301) 858-3919
Del. Jolene Ivey (410) 841-3478 or (301) 858-3478
Del. J. B. Jennings (410) 841-3698 or (301) 858-3698
Del. Anne R. Kaiser (410) 841-3036 or (301) 858-3036
Del. Nancy J. King (410) 841-3037 or (301) 858-3037
Del. Susan W. Krebs (410) 841-3200 or (301) 858-3200
Del. Robert A. McKee (410) 841-3447 or (301) 858-3447
Del. Peter F. Murphy (410) 841-3247 or (301) 858-3247
Del. John A. Olszewski or Jr. (410) 841-3458 or (301) 858-3458
Del. Craig L. Rice (410) 841-3090 or (301) 858-3090
Del. Justin D. Ross (410) 841-3652 or (301) 858-3652
Del. Melvin L. Stukes (410) 841-3544 or (301) 858-3544
Del. Frank S. Turner (410) 841-3246 or (301) 858-3246
Del. Jay Walker (410) 841-3581 or (301) 858-3581
Additionally, you may visit this page and click on the delegates' names to see more information, including other ways to contact them.
Be sure to talk about how this bill would help give students access to higher education, how education should be encouraged for people convicted of minor drug offenses, and how Maryland has the right to follow its own policy when it comes to state financial aid. Let the delegates know that their YES vote for HB 283 will ensure that under state law, Maryland's students will be judged based on merit and necessity, and not on minor past mistakes.
Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Please forward this message along to friends and family in Maryland, so that they may become involved in reform as well.
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