December 2015
Our favorite 15 highlights of 2015
2015 was a banner year for SSDP, and you can read all about our favorite 15 highlights of the year below. With unprecedented opportunities for local, state, national, and international reform, 2016 could be even bigger with more chapter growth, more new programs, and more new policy changes as a result. We couldn’t be more excited about what our student
SSDP Welcomes the University of Kentucky Chapter
As a little present for y’all around the holidays, I’d like to introduce our new chapter at the University of Kentucky. How did you hear about SSDP? I have followed the Drug Policy Alliance as their vision and mission resonated with me as a graduate student searching for like-minded voices regarding the war on drugs. In short, I found a
We have no sense of the impossible
We just got big news, and wanted to share it with you right away: a long-time friend of SSDP would like to make a generous gift of $25,000 on December 31, but she doesn’t want to do it alone! So she has challenged you to join her by making a gift of $5, $10, $25, or more today and, when
The Personal is Political: How the War on Drugs is a War on Communities
Written by UC Berkeley SSDP Co-President Oliver Zerrudo My first International Drug Policy Reform Conference left me with many amazing conversations to mull over. One of the things that resonated with me most was when, during the Reform For Those Who Sell Drugs: Challenging a Taboo of Drug Policy Reform workshop, someone said, “Nice people sell drugs too.” For me,
December Monthly Mosaic: Religion and the Drug War
Note: You may have received this email blast by mistake today. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you are interested in receiving these emails, please email Frances at frances@ssdp.org. Thank you! In the modern American context, religious communities are often viewed as natural enemies of drug policy reform. However, not only is there a growing movement
Summary of Activities for SSDP's Model UNGASS General Assembly Session
Written by Rachelle Yeung ’12, President of SSDP’s Mid-Atlantic Region Alumni Association and co-host of This Week in Drugs. SSDP would like to thank our UNGASS Advisory Committee for devoting their time and expertise towards ensuring students were well prepared for the event. In addition to advising us on the format for the event, advisory committee members reviewed country position
SSDP Welcomes the University of California Irvine Chapter
Meet Daniel Yee, the chapter leader of Students for Sensible Drug Policy at University of California Irvine. He is a second year studying Anthropology. He found out at Students for Sensible Drug Policy through MAPS. He wanted to get involved with drug policy reform because he thought there was a big need for people to be educated about issues pertaining
SSDP Awarded "Most Influential Organization in the Industry" by Cannabis Economy
On December 12th, 2015, Cannabis Economy hosted the CannAwards in Denver, Colorado. CannAwards honor and celebrate leadership and innovation in the Cannabis industry. We were honored to receive the award for “Most Influential Organization in the Industry”. This award goes to: “an organization that has demonstrated leadership in the industry. This organization is a visionary that creates passion in others,
Ariana's story
Our growing network of 4,000 members on 300 campuses in 12 countries is full of outstanding young people, and it’s my honor to be able to share just a few of their stories with you this holiday season. It’s because of the support of people like you that today will mean our growing network of 4,000 student members — members
Remembering Ireland's First Drug Arrest
Written by Cork Institute of Technology SSDP chapter leader Martin Condon. In April of 1964, Raifiu Ojikuto, a 26-year-old Nigerian medical student living at Pembroke Cottages, Ballsbridge was arrested for possession of Purple Hearts (amphetamine stimulant tablets), becoming the first person in Irish history to be arrested on drugs charges. He was found dead in his home by gardaí after he
Finals Week Review: New Chapters from Fall 2015
As the Fall semester of 2015 draws to a close, our student leaders are busy preparing for finals, reviewing coursework from the last four months and getting ready for winter break. In the spirit of reviewing for finals, I want to highlight some chapters who are new to our network this semester, but have yet to be featured on the SSDP blog.
SSDP Welcomes the Beloit College Chapter
Griffin Salisbury and Pat McGoldrick of Beloit College recently joined our network and I’m very excited to introduce them to you! Read along for more about their process of getting started and moving forward. 1. How did you hear about SSDP? I was writing a paper on MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. So far, the experiments being
SSDP Welcomes the Ferris State University Chapter
As always, I’m really excited to introduce a new chapter to the SSDP network. This time at Ferris State University in Michigan. Chapter Leader Michael Williams tells us about his journey so far. How did you hear about SSDP? Getting into discussions of Drug Policy and current events on various internet boards between 2004-2009, I had known of
Protect students like Rachel, Andrew, and "Joe"
Last Sunday, 60 Minutes aired an investigation of the use of young people as confidential informants featuring the story of SSDP alumna Rachel Hoffman. Frequently, young people who are busted for minor drug offenses are pressured in to becoming informants without the guidance of trusted adults, advice from an attorney, or a full understanding of their rights and the likely outcomes of
SSDP Welcomes Lewis and Clark Law School Chapter
I’m thrilled to introduce Kaitlyn Dent, the founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Lewis and Clark Law School. Kaitlyn is originally from Michigan. She double majored in Psychology and Film & Theatre as an undergraduate in Northern California, and is now a 2L in law school in Portland at Lewis and Clark Law School. “A sensible drug policy to
ANOTHER VIEW: Federal Marijuana Laws Keep Medical Pot From The Veterans Who Need It
Written by Board of Directors Vice Chair, Lauren Mendelsohn From the Gazettes: As more states move towards legalizing marijuana for adult use, people tend to forget that for many people suffering from debilitating diseases, even medical cannabis access is still a major challenge. Nowhere is this injustice more clear than for military veterans. Doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Seven Lessons We Learned at Reform 2015
The Drug Policy Alliance hosted their biennial International Drug Policy Reform Conference this past November 18-21, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy was out in full force at this year’s event. We asked students to tell us some of the most important lessons they learned from the conference. Sabrina Bode, Hunter College “To be able to foster politics in this
SSDP Alumni Association Newsletter: Fall 2015
I’m excited to share the first edition of SSDP’s Alumni Association newsletter with you. The Association’s Leadership Board decided to provide this newsletter after alumni reported they wanted to hear from SSDP more, know what the national organization, individual chapters, and fellow alumni are doing. In each issue, we will highlight at least one chapter and an alumnus, as well
