Blog (old)
Dems Call on Biden to Limit Weed Prosecutions Before Trump Takes Over – Rolling Stone
It was incredible to see a photo of our SSDP team from our cannabis legalization rally back in October 2022 in front of the White House featured in Rolling Stone! A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives is calling on the Biden administration to finalize its plans to limit marijuana prosecutions at the federal level before he leaves office. Read the article
Top 5 Reasons to Support SSDP this Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to use your individual power of generosity to support the nonprofit organizations that you believe in most. SSDP is the largest nationwide network of young people working to replace the War on Drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights. SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process and
Interviews: Meet the Team Who Challenged the DEA on DOI and DOC – Psychedelic Alpha
We are grateful to Psychedelic Alpha for this comprehensive overview of the people behind our effort to challenge the DEA on two psychedelic research chemicals – DOI & DOC. The team can only remain optimistic that the evidence presented was enough to tilt the scale in favor of SSDP/Ramos, and if nothing else that those watching and reading about this
DEA concludes hearing on 2 psychedelic research compounds – The Microdose
Thank you to The Microdose, an independent journalism newsletter brought to you by the U.C. Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics for covering SSDP’s historic ten-day court hearing with the DEA fighting to keep psychedelic research chemicals DOI & DOC legal. Read the article here.
A Psychedelic Ban Would Disrupt Important Research – Reason
We are grateful for Reason for shining light on our court case with the DEA, fighting to keep DOI & DOC, two psychedelic research chemicals from becoming Schedule I drugs. SSDP describes the two compounds as “essential research chemicals in pre-clinical psychiatry and neurobiology,” noting that their unscheduled status has made them accessible as tools for studying serotonin receptors. It says DOI,
National Day of Action: Urge President Biden to Grant Cannabis Clemency Today – Stupiddope
Thank you for Stupiddope for sharing our advocacy alert to call the White House today for National Day of Action for Cannabis Clemency. Read the article here.
Call President Biden TODAY for the National Day of Action for Cannabis Clemency
Join SSDP and other cannabis justice advocates in urging President Biden to use his clemency power to release every last federal cannabis prisoner before the end of this term. Today, November 18, 2024, is the National Day of Action for Cannabis Clemency. Time is running out to turn words into action. We encourage you to use your voice and call
Dispatch From the DEA: DOI and DOC on Trial As Scientists Challenge Psychedelic Scheduling Bid – Psychedelic Alpha
We are grateful to investigative journalist Jack Gorsline on behalf of Psychedelic Alpha for joining SSDP in court with the DEA to dig into the SSDP’s trail with the DEA. Reflecting on events thus far, SSDP/Ramos co-counsel Phelps seemed confident. “I think it went as well as we could have hoped”, he said, adding that he thinks his side’s evidence
Psychonaut POV: Q&A with Kat Murti, Activist & Director – Tricycle Day
Tricycle Day ,a leading psychedelic newsletter, featured SSDP’s Executive Director Kat Murti in their November 17, 2024 edition. We spoke to Kat about why students are the ideal people to fight the War on Drugs, how SSDP is challenging the DEA right now, and what anyone can do to support sensible psychedelic policy. Read the Q&A with Kat here.
Apply to Join our 2025 Board of Directors
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is governed by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of both current student and youth Elected Directors, who are active chapter members elected by our membership, and Appointed Directors, who are appointed by the existing Board. Together, they are responsible for crafting strategy for the organization, overseeing compliance and financial affairs, and overseeing
SSDP Kicks off DEA Court Hearing with Press Conference in Arlington, Virginia
This morning in front of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, SSDP’s Science Policy Committee, a group of PhD students and other researchers who are fighting back against the War on Drugs, along with SSDP’s legal team spoke about our unprecedented court hearing kicking off today and running through November 25. You can watch the press conference
Why is the DEA trying to ban these research chemicals? – Boulder Weekly
Thanks to Boulder Weekly for sharing news about our upcoming ten day hearing with the DEA to keep psychedelic research chemicals DOI & DOC legal. DOI and DOC have been used to help study anxiety, depression, substance use disorder and more. The drugs have been cited in more than 900 published studies, according to Murti. In July, SSDP and others sued to
Empowering students to make informed decisions: Students for Sensible Drug Policy – The Lutrinae
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB), led by Maria Fernanda Corral Cervantes was featured in The Lutrinae. For Cervantes, fostering a culture of harm reduction on campus means more than just providing resources–it’s about creating a space where students can discuss their experiences openly. “It’s important for students to have a place to talk
Where Some See Taboos, They See Opportunity – The New York Times
SSDP’s partnership with Overdrive Defense gets mention in The New York Times. Read the article here.
Breaking Boundaries: Psychedelics, Drug Policy, and the Science of Healing – Vibe Science
Vibe Science hosts Ryan Alford and Chris Hansen bring listeners on a journey through the evolving world of drug policy. Thank you for inviting SSDP’s Kat Murti and Gina Giorgio onto the podcast to discuss psychedelics, drug policy, and the science of healing. Watch the episode here.
With mental health concerns on the rise, psychedelic drugs may be the answer – Boston University News Service
Thank you for the Boston University News Service for their article discussing Question 4 on the Massachusetts ballot. Read the article here. “Typically, the way we approach mental healthcare is through a long path of seeing a therapist for potentially years,” said Gina Giorgio, Director of Strategy for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. “Psychedelic therapists say that treatment may only
Six tips from the Students for Sensible Drug Policy to stay safe during Halloween – The Lutrinae
Thanks to The Lutrinae, the student-run newspaper covering California State University, Monterey Bay, for posting their article, “Six tips from the Students for Sensible Drug Policy to stay safe during Halloween.“ “While college students may be past their candy-collecting days, unfamiliar substances, chaotic environments and inexperience mean #Halloween can still be as risky as any horror story according to the
SSDP Community Hangouts are Open to All
Community matters at SSDP, and that is why we are hosting monthly “SSDP Hangouts” for the SSDP family to get together to share upcoming projects, seek advice, and meet like-minded leaders. What to expect at a SSDP virtual hangout: Join us on zoom on November 3 at 6:00 PM ET for our next SSDP Hangout. Bring your ideas, a helpful
Psychedelics on the Ballot in Massachusetts – Lucid News
Thank you to Lucid News for sharing information about the importance of Question 4 on the ballot in Massachusetts. SSDP’s Campaign Educators have been all over the state urging the community to register to vote, and sharing important info on what this measure means for psychedelic policy in the state. Law Enforcement Action Partnership, veterans groups including Disabled American Veterans
Documentary screening, Q&A to highlight Question 4 – Greenfield Recorder
Local advocacy groups including SSDP will host an informal reception at the Garden Cinemas on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 4:30 p.m., to discuss Yes on 4 followed by a screening of the feature-length documentary “Music for Mushrooms.” Thanks to the Recorder for mentioning SSDP in the Weekly Recorder. Read more here.
SSDP Science Policy Committee successfully pushes back on DEA effort to criminalize psychedelic research
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SSDP Science Policy Committee successfully pushes back on DEA effort to criminalize psychedelic research On Friday August 26, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) withdrew proposed Schedule I status for 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC). The notice states that “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is withdrawing a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on
Countdown For Cannabis Clemency
Two years ago today, SSDP and Last Prisoner Project joined forces to mobilize a rally in Washington D.C. for cannabis justice. Our goal then (and now) is to keep reminding the President of his campaign promise to release cannabis prisoners and provide them with retroactive relief. While this administration has made progress, President Biden has yet to release a single federal
Meet the Legal Team Fighting the DEA to Save Psychedelic Research – Psychedelics Today
We are grateful to Psychedelics Today for educating the community about the importance of DOI & DOC. “I have many colleagues who work with these compounds who will testify in the upcoming hearing, and that is only a subset of the research community,” said Elijah Ullman, Chair of SSDP’s Science Policy Council who has been interested in science policy since
DEA Faces Setback As Judge Denies Request To Block Witnesses In Psychedelics Ban Hearing – Benzinga
In a significant development for psychedelics research, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrative law judge has rejected the agency’s request to block key witnesses and evidence in an upcoming hearing. The case, set for November, challenges the DEA’s proposed ban on two psychedelic compounds, DOI and DOC, which are used in research. Thank you to Benzinga for sharing this important the DOI and DOC hearing news.
Looking Ahead to Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver next June
SSDP is proud to serve as a community partner for MAPS Psychedelic Science, taking place June 16-20, 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. In 2023, Psychedelic Science hosted over 12,000 guests and was the largest psychedelic gathering in the world with classes and workshops, 10 educational stages, expo hall, and Deep Space, an immersive and interactive art experience.
