Drug felons must be the worst of all

If you are spending money on tuition for college, there is a "Hope Credit" available to reduce your taxes. I looked through the instructions of IRS Form 8863, which is what you file to get this credit. A curious qualification shows up in the instructions:

The student has not been convicted of a felony for possessing or distributing a controlled substance.

Form 8863

So convicted murderers, rapists, sex offenders, terrorists, etc., are all OK, as long as they weren't involved in drugs.

It seems to be an odd social policy. Maybe we think drug convicts are the worst of the worst and shouldn't be encouraged to improve themselves.