Kat Murti
7 Reasons SSDP Opposes Criminalization of 7-OH: A Call for Compassionate, Evidence-Based Policy
At Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), we believe that science, compassion, and autonomy—not fear and misinformation—should guide public health decisions. The recent push to criminalize 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a natural compound found in kratom, is yet another example of the failed War on Drugs approach that harms people rather than protecting them. Here’s what you need to know—and why SSDP
Statement from Students for Sensible Drug Policy On the Extrajudicial Killing of Unarmed Fishermen in the Name of the “War on Drugs”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org Statement from Students for Sensible Drug Policy On the Extrajudicial Killing of Unarmed Fishermen in the Name of the “War on Drugs” Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported extrajudicial killing of Latin American and Caribbean
PA Cannabis Day of Unity: Bipartisan Advocate Coalition and Lawmakers Call on Pennsylvania to Legalize Cannabis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org PA Cannabis Day of Unity: Bipartisan Advocate Coalition and Lawmakers Call on Pennsylvania to Legalize Cannabis Advocates call on lawmakers to pass SB 120 and finally bring fair, regulated cannabis legalization to Pennsylvania — one of the last two Northeast states without adult-use
Let’s Legalize Pennsylvania! – Sign-On Letter in Support of Adult Use Legislation
We call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis products for adults 21 and older to advance freedom, health and safety, and justice, while generating much-needed revenue for the Commonwealth and its residents. Each year, Pennsylvania authorities make over 10,000 arrests for cannabis possession. This mass criminalization derails lives and diverts law enforcement resources from crimes
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States Submitted to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women under the Communications Procedure by Students for Sensible Drug Policy, August 1, 2025 Introduction The global “War on Drugs” has served as a mechanism for systemic oppression, disproportionately harming marginalized populations while reinforcing entrenched racial,
FDA & DEA Move to Criminalize 7-OH
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classify 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Health & Human Services sent a press release this past Tuesday, July 25, that the FDA is taking steps to restrict 7-OH products. SSDP strongly opposes
Psychedelic Law Starts Here: Gina Giorgio’s Keynote at PsychedelX 2025
At PsychedelX 2025, SSDP’s Director of Strategy and Development Gina Giorgio, MA, delivered a powerful keynote on “Psychedelic Law Starts Here: How You Can Impact Every Level of Government.” In her talk, Gina outlined actionable ways for students, advocates, and professionals to engage in psychedelic policy reform—from campus organizing and city-level initiatives to shaping state, federal, and even international drug
Shaping the Future of Psychedelic Policy at Harvard Law School
This month, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) joined leading thinkers in psychedelic law, policy, science, and ethics for Psychedelics Bootcamp 2025 at Harvard Law School. Organized by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, in partnership with the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR), this two-day intensive brought together a dynamic group of students, scholars,
SSDP Submits Written Testimony in Massachusetts, Denouncing “Nicotine-Free Generation” Bills as a New Face of the War on Drugs
On July 14, 2025, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Executive Director Kat Murti was invited to testify virtually before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health in opposition to H.2562 and S.1568—bills that would ban the sale of all nicotine products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2006, and have been jointly titled “An Act to create a nicotine free generation.” Unfortunately,
Join SSDP’s First Harm Reduction Committee Meeting!
At Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), we believe that real change begins with education, community, and collaboration. That’s why we’re excited to invite you to the very first meeting of our Harm Reduction Committee! Please complete the Interest Form to get involved. 📅 Date: Thursday, July 31st🕒 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm EDT📍 Meeting Link: https://meet.google.com/oxr-kwty-xev This meeting is
Reason Versus City Journal: Legalize All Drugs Debate
Should all drugs be legal? At SSDP, we certainly think so! The War on Drugs is a War on Us and while all substances do carry risks and can have negative impacts on an individual, prohibition magnifies any negative impacts exponentially while creating new problems of its own. On June 24th, SSDP Program Assistant Chandler Huffman attended a Washington D.C.
PATH Caucus Briefing: Clinical Research on Psychedelic Therapies
On June 24, 2025, SSDP Executive Director Kat Murti, Program Assistant Chandler Huffman, and Archivist Christopher Gagnon attended a Congressional briefing on the latest clinical research into psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health and addiction, hosted by the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus. Featured speakers Dr. Frederick Barrett and Dr. Brandon Weiss from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Psychedelic and
ON WORLD PSYCHEDELICS DAY, DEA ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE SCIENCE BY RECOMMENDING TO SCHEDULE DOI AND DOC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org ON WORLD PSYCHEDELICS DAY, DEA ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE SCIENCE BY RECOMMENDING TO SCHEDULE DOI AND DOC By recommending that 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodo-amphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloro-amphetamine (DOC) be added to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the Administrative Law Judge is supporting the DEA’s proposal
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD CALL ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PARENT COMPANY META TO STOP CENSORSHIP OF CANNABIS, PSYCHEDELIC, AND HARM REDUCTION-RELATED CONTENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD CALL ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PARENT COMPANY META TO STOP CENSORSHIP OF CANNABIS, PSYCHEDELIC, AND HARM REDUCTION-RELATED CONTENT The Open Letter to Meta published by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)—the largest youth-led network focused on ending the War
OPEN LETTER TO META: END THE CENSORSHIP OF CANNABIS, PSYCHEDELIC, AND HARM REDUCTION COMMUNITIES
OPEN LETTER TO META: END THE CENSORSHIP OF CANNABIS, PSYCHEDELIC, AND HARM REDUCTION COMMUNITIES To the Leadership and Content Moderation Teams at Meta Platforms, Inc., We write to you today on behalf of a broad coalition of students, educators, researchers, advocates, entrepreneurs, and community leaders working at the forefront of drug policy reform, harm reduction, and public health. We are
Marijuana Mythbusters: Debunking the DEA’s Claims
Despite widespread support for cannabis policy reform, prohibitionists continue to perpetuate misinformation to stigmatize cannabis consumers and prevent further reform progress. That’s why the Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug Policy have teamed up to tackle these myths head-on, offering evidence-based insights to set the record straight! CLAIM: Marijuana is a gateway drug. REALITY: The vast majority of
New App-Based Initiative Equipping Youth With Lifesaving Opioid Overdose Recognition, Response, and Prevention Tools Launches on International Harm Reducation Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org The new program—created by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest network of young people working to end the War on Drugs—provides free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other supplies to those who complete an hour-long self-paced course on harm reduction best
Young People Fight Back Against Hemp Recriminalization in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Giorgio Director of Strategy and Development Students for Sensible Drug Policy gina@ssdp.org [AUSTIN, TX – April 22, 2025] – As part of an ongoing campaign to prevent the recriminalization of cannabis products in Texas, representatives from Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs, recently testified
SSDPers Testify in Texas State House
Former University of North Texas Chapter Leader and current Elected Director on SSDP’s youth-led Board of Directors Jeannette McKenzie and Halle Tarvin, an SSDP alumni who was one of the original founders of UNT’s SSDP chapter, testified last week against two Texas bills that threaten to recriminalize cannabinoids and create harsh new penalties under law. The pair have been working
Empathy Over Excess: More Naloxone is Not Always Better
Picture credit to harm reductionist and friend of SSDP Azrael Mae Ní Mháille
Fordham SSDP to Host Speaker Event with Drug Policy Advocate Corinne Carey
New York, NY – March 24, 2025 – Students for Sensible Drug Policy is excited to announce that the Fordham University chapter will host a speaker event this Friday featuring Corinne Carey, a leading New York advocate for drug policy reform, harm reduction, and end-of-life care legislation. Event Details: Date: March 28, 2025 Time: 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM ET Location: South Lounge, Lowenstein Center, Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus
SSDP Joins Psychedelics 101 Congressional Briefing
What an honor to have a seat at the table for the Psychedelics 101 briefing hosted by the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus and organized with the help of former Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA). SSDP Executive Director Kat Murti ’09 and Program Assistant Chandler Huffman ’25 attended the meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building earlier this week. Dr.
Help Legalize Marijuana in Texas
Citizen Lobby Day Presented by: Texas Cannabis Collective In partnership with: SSDP, Texas Cannabis Policy Center, Last Prisoner Project Media Partners: Grow House Media, & TX Cannabis TV Sponsors: Thrive Apothecary, GRAV, The Haze Connect, Cardiel Cannabis Co Register: Lobby Day Join us for a day of advocacy at the Texas Capitol! Bringing together advocates from the medical, hemp, criminal
Join SSDP’s Drug Education Committee!
Hello SSDP Family, We’re excited to invite you to join the SSDP Drug Education Committee as we get ready to revamp Just Say Know! What is Just Say Know? Just Say Know is SSDP’s peer-led drug education program designed to provide young people with accurate information and resources about drugs, drug policy, and drug safety. We are getting ready to
ACTION ALERT: Stop the HALT Fentanyl Act
The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently place all fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I, create mandatory minimum sentences for offenses involving fentanyl-related substances, and impede important research into fentanyl-related substances. The HALT Fentanyl Act is more of the same failed and draconian drug war policies that neither prevent overdose nor stop the distribution of fentanyl in drug markets, will tear families
