Blog (old)

28
Feb

Uniting for Change: SSDP’s 4/20 Week of Unity – A Call to Transform Cannabis Justice

In a world often divided by political lines and industry interests, a groundbreaking movement is stirring. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is leading the charge towards a future where cannabis justice is not just a dream, but a tangible reality. This April, the SSDP is set to host a monumental event – the 4/20 Week of Unity. It’s more

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16
Apr

BREAKING THE PAPER SHACKLES: AN INSIDE LOOK AT STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY’S  NATIONWIDE EXPUNGEMENT RESOURCE FAIR SET TO REPAIR THE HARMS TO INDIVIDUALS CAUSED BY CANNABIS PROHIBITION

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is launching our Breaking the Paper Shackles project—a nationwide expungement program to advance impactful policy reform and help individuals overcome the devastating collateral consequences of a criminal record that can impede access to employment, housing, and education—at the 420 Week of Unity.

16
Apr

420 Week of Unity: Students for Sensible Drug Policy to Join Largest Evera Bip-Partisan Coalition of Cannabis Advocates, Industry, and Grassroots Organizations Calling for Cannabis Decriminalization during Cannabis Summit in Washington, DC

30+ Organizations Join Forces for 420 Unity Day of Action Press Conference, Lobby Day, and White House Candlelight Vigil Primary Press Contact: Maya Tatum, Press Secretary, mayaatatumm@gmail.com Secondary Press Contact: Kat Murti, SSDP Executive Director, kat@ssdp.org #420WeekOfUnity #BidenRelease420Prisoners #DescheduleCannabisNow Washington D.C. – On Wednesday, April 17th at 9 am, Students for Sensible Drug Policy will join a bi-partisan coalition of

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15
Apr

#420WeekOfUnity Starts Today!

#420WeekOfUnity is more than a day; it’s a call for unity, action, and transformation in the realm of cannabis justice.

15
Apr

Breaking the Paper Shackles: A Path to Healing and Justice

We are not just clearing records; we are changing lives.

11
Mar

Announcing the SSDP Congressional Session 2024 Results

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is proud to announce our elected 2024 board directors!

7
Mar

Elections for the Class of 2024 Board of Directors Open TODAY

SSDP is a youth-lead organization that cannot exist without the input of our members.  Your voices and questions are important as your ideas are what drive our success. 

5
Mar

Meet Our 2024 Board of Directors Candidates

As the largest national youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs, SSDP takes youth leadership seriously. Every year, the SSDP family comes together to elect new student members to the Board of Directors. Serving on SSDP’s Board of Directors is an invaluable, incredibly rewarding experience and a crucial role in our organization. SSDP’s Board of Directors—which is comprised

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27
Feb

Binghampton SSDP Features in Pipe Dream

A group of Binghamton University students have been leading an effort to get a Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) chapter chartered on campus. The process has been spearheaded by Ben Glick — a sophomore majoring in psychology who works as an overdose intervention specialist overseeing Narcan distribution for Broome County — alongside Truth Pharm, a local nonprofit harm reduction

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18
Jan

Top Five Reasons from 2023 to Support SSDP in 2024!

2023 was a big year for SSDP—we saw big staff changes (we have a new ED!), we made big policy changes, and we just generally did some amazing work to save lives and END the War on Drugs. Throughout it all, one thing remains true: SSDP is still the most widespread, effective, and intersectional youth drug policy organization in the

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4
Jan

Join SSDP’s Youth-Led Board of Directors – Applications Now Open!

Board applications now open!

29
Dec

SSDP Welcomes gina vensel to Board of Directors

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is elated to welcome our newest appointed Board member, gina vensel.  gina’s addition to the board is an exciting time for our organization, and we are looking forward to integrating her vast expertise in advocacy, marketing, fundraising, event coordination, and combating stigma into our work. gina vensel is a marketing and media professional, events

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14
Oct

Welcome Kat Murti, Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s New Executive Director

Meet SSDP’s new Executive Director Kat Murti!

31
Jul

SSDP ED to Take New Position as Director of Strategic initiatives at the Last Prisoner Project

SSDP ED to Take New Position as Director of Strategic initiatives at the Last Prisoner Project Washington, DC – SSDP’s Executive Director, Jason Ortiz, has accepted the position of Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project. He will start in his new role August 1st but will remain on staff as SSDP’s Board of Directors works through the

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31
Jul

SSDP Welcomes Jonathan Lubecky to Board of Directors

SSDP Welcomes Jonathan Lubecky to Board of Directors   Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is thrilled to welcome our newest Board member, Jonathan M. Lubecky, U.S. Army SGT(R). Jonathan’s addition to our team marks an exciting new chapter for our organization, and we are eager to integrate his vast expertise in advocacy, governmental affairs, and psychedelic medicine into our

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27
Jul

Rob Hofmann to join American Atheists as thier new State Policy Director!

Last week, I accepted a new position as the State Policy Manager with American Atheists, a religious equality / separation of church and state organization. My last day at SSDP will be Tuesday, August 8th. I have deeply appreciated my time with SSDP, professionally for four years and involved as a chapter member for seven and a half years. Students

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19
Jul

10 HBCU Students Chosen for The 2nd Ever FreeThePlant.FYI Cannabis Industry Accelerator

We’re thrilled to announce the 2nd ever cohort of the FreeThePlant.FYI HBCU Industry Accelerator and welcome an exceptional group of ambassadors for this year’s class! The Student Marijuana Alliance for Research and Transparency (SMART) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) have chosen 10 students who will embark on an empowering journey to bring cannabis education, policy, and resources to

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25
May

SSDP Has a New Address!

Students for Sensible Drug Policy has a new PO box! Please make sure to update your address books and send all mail to… Students for Sensible Drug Policy1800 M St NW, #33051Washington, DC 20036

23
May

Psychedelic Renaissance in North Carolina: SSDP’s Gina Giorgio and Jeremy Sharp at the Forefront

Psychedelic Renaissance in North Carolina: SSDP’s Gina Giorgio and Jeremy Sharp at the Forefront By: Gina Giorgio, SSDP Psychedelic Pipeline Program Director  In January 2022, I approached Jeremy Sharp, my colleague at Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) with an idea that took us both on a significant journey. Inspired by the work of Dr. Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch and Jean

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18
May

Introducing Lake Superior State University SSDP!

Written by Jackson Rund, Lake Superior State University SSDP President How did you hear about SSDP?The first time I heard about SSDP was at MJBIZCON. I stopped at the SSDP table on the first day and really agreed with a lot of the objectives and goals of the organization. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to

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17
May

Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Vital Strategies Announces North Carolina Youth Overdose Prevention Initiative Fellows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17 , 2023 Media Contact: Jason Ortiz, SSDP jason@ssdp.org; 860-639-8101 Tony Newman, Vital Strategies  tnewman@vitalstrategies.org; 646-335-5384 Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Vital Strategies Announces North Carolina Youth Overdose Prevention Initiative Fellows With Overdose Rising Rapidly Among Youth and Communities of Color, Six Fellows Across State to Create Harm Reduction Resources and Materials and Coordinated Days

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4
May

Luis Montoya moving on to new position at Next Distro

SSDP is proud to announce that our very own Operations Director Luis Montoya will be moving on up to become Next Distro’s new team member! Luis will continue working with his passion for harm reduction in his new role and we could not be prouder to see him advance his career and build the movement for people who use drugs

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13
Apr

SSDP to mobilize National 4/20 Lobby day

Students for Sensible Drug Policy to hold a national lobby day on 4/20 at Capitol Hill to end the war on drugs Primary Contact: Jason Ortiz, 1 (860) 639-8101, jason@ssdp.org Secondary: Rob Hofmann, 1 (607) 316-0227, robert@ssdp.org Washington D.C. – Students for Sensible Drug Policy will be mobilizing a national lobby day at our nation’s capitol to pressure Congress to

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28
Mar

30 Under 30 Women in Psychedelics

Women in Psychedelics 30 Under 30  By: Gina Giorgio    Psychedelic careers have boomed in the past few years. Paving the way for a new generation of psychedelic researchers, therapists, integration specialists, policy workers, communications experts, and so much more. Entering and supporting a field that is constantly changing is challenging, especially for young folks who are still trying to

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12
Mar

Announcing the SSDP Congressional Session 2023 Results

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS! SSDP’s Congress Committee is excited to announce we have finalized the results of the Board of Directors election! Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our new Board members, Justin Ayala, Amanda Ivatorov, and Hena Malik! SSDP’s 2023 Elected Board Directors A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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