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SSDP and SMART to partner on HBCU outreach campaign to increase diversity in drug policy
Primary contacts: Jason Ortiz Executive Director, SSDP jason@ssdp.org, (860) 639-8101 Nadir Pearson Founder and CEO, SMART nadir@studentmmj.com For Immediate Release: SSDP and SMART to partner on HBCU outreach campaign to increase diversity in drug policy Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Student Marijuana Alliance for Research and Transparency launch co-branded HBCU outreach campaign February 1st, 2022— Students
SSDP, Decrim Nature become partners to promote compassion based public policy
For Immediate Release: National Decriminalization Advocacy Groups Launch Community Healing Alliance to Decriminalize Entheogens and Repair the Damage Done By the War on Drugs Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Decrim Nature create partnership to promote compassion and community healing based public policy Primary contacts: Jason Ortiz, 860-639-8101, jason@ssdp.org Executive Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Carlos Plazola, 510-207-7238, decrimnature@gmail.com Chair,
California State University Long Beach: SSDP Strengthens California Network
Interview with Rachael Gomez: President and Founder of California State University Long Beach SSDP SSDP’s Outreach Team is excited to announce the formation of a new chapter at the University of California Long Beach. Since getting started, the chapter has been actively organizing with fellow SSDPers in the Southern California area, connecting with community stakeholders and allies, and are learning
Apply to Become a Candidate for SSDP’s Board of Directors!
This year, the SSDP Congress will convene from April 7th – 8th, 2022, and provide each chapter in the network with the opportunity to elect new student members to the Board of Directors, and to vote on resolutions for the organizations. ELECTING STUDENT MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS As a nonprofit organization, SSDP is governed by the Board of
Missoula SSDP successfully pressures Administration to protect student health and safety
The University of Montana SSDP chapter (Missoula SSDP) had a major win in September of 2020 when a unanimous decision to adopt their proposed medical amnesty policy was announced by their Student Government, which was the beginning of their efforts to bring medical amnesty protections on campus. I had the opportunity to speak to Vice President and Treasurer Michael Layeux
Top 10 Drug Policy Reform Moments of 2021
by Robert Hofmann and Mike Liszewski With 2021 drawing to a close, Students for Sensible Drug Policy is reflecting on the drug policy milestones and victories over the past twelve months. Despite the challenges to political organizing that COVID provided, SSDPers and other drug policy reform advocates were busy advancing sensible laws and programs to end criminalization, reduce the harms
Your 2021 SSDP Wrapped
Students for Sensible Drug Policy did some amazing things in 2021. Our thoughtful, bright, and impressive young activists made huge strides towards SSDP’s vision of a post-prohibition future where safety, justice, and education are prioritized in drug policy. There’s no better time than right now to help us make 2021 even bigger by making a year-end gift. Your tax-deductible gift
Happy Holidays!
Friends, We wish you a gentle, safe, and healthy holiday season. Thank you for being a part of our community. With love, Your SSDP team From now until December 31st, all gifts made to SSDP will be matched up to $50,000. Make a gift today, and your contribution will go twice as far to support young people and sensible drug
We’re behind
At Students for Sensible Drug Policy, we deeply value all of our community members, whether they are alumni, students, youth, funders, or allies. We believe that our community should always be informed about our programs and financials, so I wanted to share with you our progress towards our fundraising goal this year. The fact is, we are behind. We are now
Rachel’s SSDP Origin Story
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of SSDP supporters like you, so I would like to tell you my SSDP origin story. Ten years ago, I was expelled from high school for drug possession. As both an honor student and a “troubled teen,” I felt so angry and disenfranchised for being punished and stigmatized, rather than
SSDP Event: Follow The Money! Taking Federal Action On Drug Policy Through Appropriations
Money. We all need it, and Congress has a lot of it. In July, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill to allocate almost $69.5 million to expand syringe service programs – quadrupling the funding that was allocated last year. The Biden Administration has been slowly adopting more harm reduction-related language when discussing issues of drug policy but it is
Carmen’s SSDP Origin Story
Today is Giving Tuesday and it’s my one-year anniversary of working at Students for Sensible Drug Policy, so I am sharing my SSDP origin story with you. In 2012, shortly after my college graduation, I was arrested for cannabis possession. I was both ashamed of my arrest and fearful that I had jeopardized my future. After my experience with the
Join SSDP for psychedelic events in New York City this week
This week, Students for Sensible Drug Policy will be in New York City for the Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics Conference. To register with our special discount code for students + youth, email carmen@ssdp.org. We’ll also be co-hosting three side events during the conference! Check out the schedule below: Thursday, December 2nd – Psychedelic New York: Community, Advocacy, and Connection Location:
Team Highlight: Jeremy Sharp ‘13
For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! And now, we have Jeremy Sharp, Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator! Jeremy Sharp ‘13 (he/him) Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement University of North Georgia Short Bio Jeremy Sharp ’12 (he/him/his) is a convicted felon who graduated from
Team Highlight: Rachel Wissner ‘11
For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! Today, we have our Development Director, Rachel Wissner! Rachel Wissner ’11 (she/her) Development Director Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement SUNY New Paltz 2011-2016 Short Bio Rachel Wissner is the Development Director at SSDP. Rachel began her career as a drug
Team Highlight: Jason Ortiz ‘08
For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! Next, we have our Executive Director, Jason Ortiz! Jason Ortiz ‘08 (he, him, el) Executive Director Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement UConn Storrs, was CFO for many years Short Bio Jason Ortiz is an almnus of the UConn SSDP chapter,
Team Highlight: Carmen Winter ‘19
For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! First up, we have Carmen Winter, Development Associate! Carmen Winter ’19, (she/they) Development Associate Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement Maryland Institute College of Art Short Bio Carmen Winter is a native Marylander and Washington, D.C. area based designer, researcher, and
Introducing the University of Denver SSDP Ambassador
We are excited to announce that we have a new Ambassador based out of the University of Denver, Georgia Horne ‘21! We met with Georgia to find out more about what brought them to the network and what they’re excited about. 1. Tell us a bit about yourself (anything that you’d like to share really) I am currently pursuing my
Making Noise in the South
SSDP Engages with Florida’s Emerging Cannabis Industry Recently, I took an autumn drive from Atlanta to Tallahassee, Florida, in order to help stakeholders lobby for sensible Cannabis reform at Florida’s State General Assembly. While cruising down an old state highway in Southern Georgia, lined with colorful leaves and farms whose abundant crops were ready for the harvest, I began to ponder
Introducing Johns Hopkins University SSDP
Written by Emma Landry ‘21 and Avery Meyer ‘21, Johns Hopkins University SSDP Co-Chapter Leaders 1. How did you hear about SSDP? Avery: I have heard about SSDP over the years vaguely, but became really interested when I talked to someone who was involved in SSDP and spoke really highly of the organization and connections it allowed her to make.
November Newsletter 2021
Note from the team It has been an exciting last few months at SSDP! We launched multiple campaigns, hired 2 stellar interns, and had a strong presence at MJBizCon, the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference, and the American Bar Association’s Business of Cannabis Conference. Help us keep up the momentum by becoming a member of our Sensible Society, and see
40 under 40 Outstanding BIPOC leaders in Drug Policy in the United States
40 under 40 Outstanding BIPOC leaders in Drug Policy By Oriana Mayorga One effective way to practice allyship and anti-racism in the drug policy movement is to intentionally uplift the voices and talents of people of color, and directly support them by booking them on your conference panels, events and through direct monetary contributions to their work. SSDP’s equity team
WAKE FOREST SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY SUCCESSFULLY BANS THE BOX ON THEIR SCHOOL APPLICATION
Interview with Lindsey Galbo, Wake Forest SOM SSDP Chapter President Lindsey Galbo ‘19 is the Founder and President of the Wake Forest School of Medicine Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter. Lindsey and the rest of the Wake Forest SOM chapter have focused primarily on the intersection of harm reduction, scientific research, education, and policy change. They’ve worked with local
Action Alert: Tell Your Senators to Eliminate Appalling Sentencing Disparities Between Crack and Powder Cocaine
It is time to end the disparity in prison sentences between crack and powder cocaine-related offenses. Urge your Senators to vote YES on the EQUAL Act!In 1986, the Anti Drug Abuse Act created a 100:1 disparity between the federal mandatory minimum sentence for crack and powder cocaine. Almost a quarter century later, President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing
We’re Hiring Interns for Just Say Know & Our Psychedelic Pipeline!
Passionate about harm reduction-based peer education? Helping drug policy reformers find the psychedelic career of their dreams? We are currently hiring two more interns! Interning with SSDP provides you with an excellent opportunity to work with the largest global youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs and to support a large network of young people across the globe.
