gina vensel
Student Activists Petition to End Cannabis, Plant Medicine Censorship on Instagram by Meta – Heady NJ
Heady NJ reports that Students for Sensible Drug Policy leads the way through online efforts to fight the ongoing censorship and banning of cannabis, psychedelics, and harm reduction organizations. “It is vital that evidence-based, life-saving information is not censored. Harm reduction and drug education save lives. Cannabis and psychedelic therapies are supported by rigorous scientific research and show promise for
SSDP’s Gina Giorgio Appointed to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health
North Carolina is home to the 8th largest Veteran population in the US, with around 619,000 Veterans living in the state. 29.5% of NC Veterans have a disability, according to US Census data. This makes the NC task force an important step forward in supporting the state’s Veterans. North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health (NCIOM) is
SSDP at the 5th Annual Pittsburgh Cannabis Festival
SSDP is excited to return to the Pittsburgh Cannabis Festival at Allegheny Commons Park on Sunday, August 10th from Noon-5PM. The festival is free and open to the public. No medical card is needed to attend. The event will promote health, wellness, education, and advocacy that explores the PA medical marijuana industry and celebrates the growing cannabis culture in Pennsylvania.
Adam J. Smith Appointed Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project – Cannabis Science & Technology
Cannabis Science & Technology reports on Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)‘s announcement of their new Executive Director, Adam J. Smith, who has 30 years of experience in drug policy reform and advocacy, including starting Students for Sensible Drug Policy! “I’m honored and excited to join the dedicated team at MPP and to build upon the organization’s extraordinary legacy in advancing sensible
USDA Database Describes Marijuana As ‘Medicinal’ Even As Federal Government Keeps It In Schedule I
Marijuana Moment reports, “While the U.S. government still officially considers marijuana a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use, federal agencies are increasingly breaking with that position. In one notable example, an entry in a Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant database describes the use of Cannabis sativa as having “medicinal” uses.” Kat Murti, executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
Marijuana Policy Project Welcomes Adam J. Smith as New Executive Director
The Marijuana Policy Project (“MPP”), announced that Adam J. Smith will join the organization as Executive Director. Smith, a 30-year veteran of the drug policy reform movement, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of advocacy successes that will further MPP’s mission of ending cannabis prohibition and advancing sensible regulations nationwide. Smith’s extensive career in drug policy
Cat Packer on Cannabis, Equity, and Reform in mg Magazine
SSDP’s friend and colleague, Cat Packer, graced the cover of mg Magazine, the leading national trade outlet for cannabis industry professionals. As the first person of color to head a cannabis regulatory agency, Cat helped build the system. Now she’s working to make it more equitable, and she mentions her collaboration with SSDP in the article. mg Magazine reports, “In
Sign SSDP’s Petition to Stop Meta Censorship
With nearly 100 company and organization co-signers (and growing!) to our Open Letter to Meta, the fight to end disproportionate censorship of content related to cannabis, psychedelics, and harm reduction has just begun. The recent social media suspensions and bans that have swept through our communities, inspired us at SSDP to bring together a broad coalition of students, educators, researchers,
SSDP Hosts Cool Down Space at National Cannabis Festival July 18-19
While the summer sun is beating away, we are brewing some amazing ways to connect with SSDP fam and the larger cannabis community. Join us July 18-19th at the National Cannabis Festival in D.C.! Music, weed, munchies, and talks allll day! We will be hosting a Cool Down Space, a harm reduction sanctuary where folks can spend some time to
Has Meta Eased Cannabis Restrictions? Less Censorship on Instagram and Facebook, but No Clear Policies – El Planteo
SSDP’s call to end Meta censorship continues to get international attention. This time from El Planteo, an online publication based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The publication informed readers that Meta is located in the US where 24 states have legal cannabis for adult use and 40 for medicine use. The publication turned to Kat Murit, SSDP’s Executive Director, for further
DEA Judge Backs Federal Ban On 2 Research Chemicals – Law360
Law360 reports that A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration judge has determined that two unrestrictive research chemicals DOI & DOC belong in Schedule I, the most strigent tier of prohibited substances under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Read more here. This recommendation directly undermines the future of psychedelic science and sets a dangerous precedent for research freedom. The groundbreaking multi-year long effort by
Harm Reduction Pioneer Challenges Patent Attempt on Century-Old Drug Testing Methods – Cision
SSDP alum, Matthew Aragón, is a harm reduction activist who began organizing at age 15 with Students for Sensible Drug Policy. His work expanding access to drug checking tools and drug education. He has partnered with Emanuel Sferios, DanceSafe founder, who has pioneered harm reduction testing methods for nearly 30 years to form HRDS LCC, a company that develops and distributes
Marijuana And Drug Groups Press Meta About Shadowbanning And Censorship – Marijuana Moment
Marijuana Moment reports that SSDP has obtained nearly 100 organizations in the U.S. and abroad to co-sign an open letter to Meta—the social media behemoth behind Facebook, Instagram and Threads—condemning the company for its censorship of marijuana- and drug-related content, which can limit users’ access to health, policy reform and educational materials. “So many groups we work with have been
Meta (finally) drops the weed censorship – Facebook & Instagram now also chill with “Cannabis” – metaller.de
SSDP is getting international attention for standing up against Meta censorship. The German website, metaller.de, quoted SSDP’s Executive Director in their recent article. The voice of reason: Kat Murti gets to the point Kat Murti of Students for Sensible Drug Policy sums it up in an interview: “Meta is one of the largest sources of information in the world. People
Facebook And Instagram Seem To Have Stopped Censoring Search Results For ‘Marijuana’ And ‘Cannabis’ – Marijuana Moment
Meta appears to have rolled back a restriction on searches for words like “marijuana” and “cannabis,” says Marijuana Moment. The company has received criticism that their censorship was overbroad and limited access to education, public health information and political advocacy. Kat Murti, executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, called the updated search function “wonderful news” but noted that
SSDP at Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver
The Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is hosting Psychedelic Science—the largest gathering of the psychedelic movement—at the Colorado Convention Center next week, and SSDP is showing up big! PS2025 begins on Monday, June 16 with two days of classes and workshops hosted by the movement’s top instructors. Then the main conference—featuring 500+ speakers, 10 stages, a diverse Expo Hall,
FreedomFest – The World’s Largest Gathering of Free Minds
Since 2007, FreedomFest has been the leader in the liberty movement to bring together thousands of people committed to freedom – concerned citizens, educators, professionals, business leaders, filmmakers, politicians, celebrities, and policy makers. FreedomFest will offer a mix of 2,000 open-minded and inquisitive people, from business experts, politicians, and entrepreneurs… to influencers, artists, and filmmakers. FreedomFest is independent, non-partisan, and not
SSDP’s Gina Giorgio Interviewed On North Carolina’s Spectrum News 1
Gina Giorgio, SSDP’s Director of Strategy and Development and Founder of the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition, was interviewed by NC television news station Spectrum News 1 about the formation of the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition in her home state, and the impact that psychedelic could have on supporting mental health patients. New psychedelic studies are underway at UNC
SSDP & The Shulgin Foundation Webinar Series Kicks Off May 27
Join SSDP for a collaborative educational webinar series with the Shulgin Foundation highlighting the intersection of chemical innovation, research value, cognitive liberty, and drug policy reform. The series kicks off with a webinar entitled, “You’ve Gotta Fight for Your Right to Research (Chemicals): The Battle to Stop the DEA Scheduling of DOI and DOC. A Webinar on the Future of
Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 Introduced to Congress – Cannabis Science and Technology
Cannabis Science and Technology reports that Congresswoman Dina Titus and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar recently introduced the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 to Congress, which hopes to change restrictions on cannabis research. The article mentions SSDP as an organization in support of this new legislation. “Our nation’s drug policies have been shaped by stigma. The American people overwhelmingly support cannabis
SSDP Launches “HOPE” on International Harm Reduction Day
In celebration of International Harm Reduction Day, SSDP has launched HOPE (Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention Education), our app-based educational initiative. This new mobile application is designed to put life-saving opioid overdose recognition and response training—along with access to essential harm reduction supplies like naloxone—directly into the hands of students, young people, and concerned community members across the nation. International
Cannabis Unity Coalition Lobbying Day
SSDP is a proud partner of the Cannabis Unity Coalition the nation’s largest bipartisan alliance of 30+ cannabis advocacy organizations united for the purpose of passing federal legislation to fully legalize cannabis and release all cannabis prisoners. SSDPers from across the country have gathered in DC this week and deliver materials today to every single office of Congress asking for
SSDP Takes Action at Cannabis Week of Unity 2025
SSDP is a founding member of the Cannabis Unity Coalition, which is the largest ever bipartisan coalition of cannabis justice advocates all of whom will be represented in Washington, D.C. for Cannabis Unity Week from April 28th to May 1st. We will be meeting with our Representatives and Senators on Capitol Hill to urge them to support upcoming cannabis bills
Coalition Letter to the Congressional Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus for the 119th Congress
SSDP is proud to include our organization on this letter to the Congressional Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus for the 119th Congress. Read the official letter here:
National Cannabis Festival Kicks Off 4/20 Week – The Washington Informer
The Washington Informer reports on the kick off to the National Cannabis Festival this week with an event today called “Roll up for Reform” at Culta Columbia where representatives from Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Maryland NORML, and the Balanced Veterans Network will discuss their initiatives to advance the rights of cannabis patients and enthusiasts throughout the DMV. The National Cannabis Policy Summit will take place
