Jason Ortiz ’08 is SSDP’s Executive Director. In addition to being a longstanding alumnus, Jason has been on the frontlines of the cannabis equity movement. Jason is a founder and President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, where he led efforts to create model cannabis equity policies at the state and municipal levels.

While he comes with extensive drug policy expertise, Jason has experience organizing on numerous issues including his role as Director of Campaigns with Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, where he worked to end capital punishment. He also served on the National Puerto Rican Agenda, where helped with Hurricane Maria relief efforts and continues to address issues of economic justice for his island.

Professionally, Ortiz has led over a dozen races for elected office as campaign manager and political consultant, and served as Executive Assistant to Minority Leader Wildaliz Bermudez of the Hartford Connecticut Court of Common Council, the city where he now resides.