Deductions & credits

The student hasn't been convicted of any federal or state felony for possessing or distributing a controlled substance as of the end of 2020. 

via their publication extended info 

Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year..... on the IRS site.

Now both of these are not clear and leave too much room when each exclusion is about the specific tax year.... why would they have a exclusion that bars your forever, and not simply just put NO FELONY CONVICTION FOR DRUG POS........  outright it really seems to be saying past felonies do not apply to the year.... 
it is bogus yes but I am not challenging what is fair, I am challenging the actual rule that they created and it is flimsy at best the interpretation only withstands if someone assumes.