Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, crystal meth: Use them and kiss your financial aid goodbye. And for those of you reliant on aid to attend college, you can kiss that degree goodbye as well.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, federal law now suspends federal student aid eligibility for any student convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs during his or her enrollment, as a part of the Higher Education Act.

Outraged? How dare they? Shaking your fist at the American government? Then you’re probably not going to like what I’m about to say.

I personally have no problem with this policy. In fact, I kind of like it. You break the law by doing or selling drugs, you must pay the consequences of your actions. Is this part of the “war” to keep kids from doing drugs? Probably. And to that I say, “Right on federal government, right on!” If you choose to ruin your life by doing or selling drugs then why should it be on the government’s dime? It shouldn’t.

Here’s a thought: How about instead of buying drugs, you buy your own books?

This isn’t like, “Well, this one time I tried pot and now I can’t get financial aid.” Most of the time, people who get caught are not first time offenders. They are frequent sellers and/or users. So, I’m sorry, but I don’t feel bad if you lose your aid because you got caught breaking the law.

Who really is the victim here? There are thousands of students who, for whatever reason, do not receive financial aid. I happen to be one of them. I have spent my time here paying my own way. I pay my tuition, my books, my car payment, my cell phone, etc.

And the only reason I don’t pay rent is because my mom decided to let me live at home for free to help support me through college. But I am far from rolling in the cash. It really would be nice if the government could pay for me to go to college.

Maybe then I wouldn’t have to work so much and I could focus more on my studies. But the reality is, I have to work. The reality is, I don’t do drugs and I don’t receive financial aid.

Plus, offenders aren’t banished from college or even from receiving aid. If a student truly wishes to make up for their wrongdoing and regain their aid,they can by completing a rehabilitation program that includes random drug tests.

In the majority of cases, students retain their eligibility, Education Department spokeswoman Valerie Smith told USA Today.

It is a slap in the face to students like me to see people getting anywhere from a partial to full-ride from financial aid and spend their time and extra money on drugs or the distribution of them. How about moving up the standards and helping out students who do the right thing?

For those of you outraged at this idea, maybe you feel like this is just another step in the government’s push to control your lives. Maybe you think the man is trying to get you down. But when this same man is paying your way, you have to be held accountable.

Just like a job, you have a boss who oversees your work and if you aren’t fulfilling your duties, why should you get the Christmas bonus when so many would give anything to receive the same financial windfall?

Nicki Croly can be reached at [email protected]

This article has been edited due to updated information