January 2016
New Mexico 2016 Legislative Session Part One: Lobby Day
Written by New Mexico State Policy Intern Brett Phelps I came to law school with a goal of reforming New Mexico’s failed drug policies. At our SSDP Lobby Day on Tuesday January 26th I joined my fellow law students and advocates at the state capitol building in Santa Fe – or the Roundhouse, as we call it – to put
Announcing our 2016 California Microgrants Program
We want to expand the SSDP network in California in 2016 and we’re looking to our best student activists to help make that happen! Are you an SSDP rockstar in California? Do you think you can build a chapter (or 3) at a neighboring school? Do you like money as well as the intrinsic reward of recruiting the next class of SSDPers? If you answered
10 years ago today, I was arrested for marijuana possession
I was 18 years old, and it was the night before classes began for my second semester as a freshman at the University of Maryland. I was smoking a joint alone in my dorm room to relax before I went to bed when I heard a knock at the door. Without a peephole to see who it was, nor the
SSDP Introduces our 2016 State Policy Interns
Pushing the State Policy Envelope As our national staff continues to grow, we are very excited to announce that we are piloting new state policy internships in New Mexico, New York, and Arizona this year. The State Policy Interns are primarily responsible for monitoring, analyzing, reporting on, and developing appropriate student response to state-level drug policy, particularly those policies which
SSDP Welcomes the Wayne State University Chapter
We have a newly established chapter in Michigan! I’d like to welcome Ahmad Khasawneh of Wayne State University to the SSDP family. Check out what he has to say about his new chapter and their hopes for the future! How did you hear about SSDP? I was browsing through reddit one time and noticed that SSDP was running an Indiegogo
SSDP Welcomes the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Chapter
I’m very happy to announce our newest Wisconsin-based chapter, led by Sam Dunkovich at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Read below to find out more about how he came to find out about SSDP and get involved. Thanks for your leadership, Sam! We’re all looking forward to working with you. How did you hear about SSDP? I first heard
SSDP Takes the Presidential Primaries
From January 4-6, New England College hosted the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Student Convention in Manchester, NH. Students for Sensible Drug Policy sponsored the event, held a panel session, and brought fourteen SSDP students and alumni to highlight drug policy reform as an important youth issue in the 2016 elections. This unique experience exposed students to the political
January Monthly Mosaic: New Year's Resolutions
January Monthly Mosaic New Year’s Resolutions Happy New Year from SSDP’s Diversity Awareness, Response and Education Committee! While we usually use this space to educate about an area of intersectionality with drug policy, in celebration of the new year, this Monthly Mosaic is dedicated to some New Year’s resolutions we’re making. We hope you’ll not only join us, but share
SSDP Welcomes Three New Campus Coordinators
Written by AZ/NV Campus Coordinator Cameron Oberlin 2016 is going to be a huge, transformational year for SSDP and drug policy reform. This year, SSDP brought on three new Campus Coordinators to work on the ground in states that are most auspicious for landmark reforms. Campus Coordinators will be tasked with expanding the SSDP network in their respective states, in
SSDP Campaign Toolkits 2016
It’s 2016! With the arrival of the new year, Students for Sensible Drug Policy is excited to share with you four brand new campaign toolkits – all can be found on the Campaign Toolkits page. Psychedelic (Entheogenic) Legalization Toolkit This year, millions of people will use psychedelics for the first time, with little to no information about harm reduction, and
January Monthly FYI
Here’s what’s going on in the SSDP network this month: Recent chapter accomplishments Midwest Region Luke Zona from Bowling Green State University took his naloxone recommendations to the university chief of police, fire, and public health, and they thought it was such a good idea they’re beginning to work to implement it in the entire county. Reid Murdoch and Sam
Early bird conference registration for SSDP2016 now available
“This conference (SSDP2014) attracted the nicest, most passionate, down to earth people I’ve ever met. I made friends for a lifetime while gaining skills I know I’ll use to change the world. It. Was. Awesome.” SSDP2016 this April will be no different. This year’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference will bring together hundreds of students, alumni and supporters for
