gina vensel
SSDP Applauds Defeat of SB25-076 in Colorado – Calls for Sensible Cannabis and Natural Medicine Policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 12, 2025SSDP Applauds Defeat of SB25-076 in Colorado – Calls for Sensible Cannabis andNatural Medicine PolicyDenver, CO – Yesterday, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and otheradvocates stood ready to testify in opposition to Senate Bill 25-076, a proposal thatsought to impose severe THC potency restrictions and purchase limits for people undertwenty-six years of age, expanded packaging
SSDP Hangout April 7 – Myth or Fact
Join us on Monday, April 7th at 8:00 pm ET for a collegial, fun, friendly, and (slightly) competitive round of Myth or Fact! Hang out with SSDP folks from across the nation, discuss drug policy, and learn more about ongoing events. Please direct any questions to amanda.ivatorov@board.ssdp.org. We hope to see you all there! Visit this link to join via
MPP Celebrates Women’s History Month – Marijuana Policy Project
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of women throughout history. While often overlooked, women have played a pivotal role in shaping the cannabis landscape. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the women who are leading the charge in cannabis advocacy, fighting for policy reform, social justice, and access to this powerful plant. Thank
The UK Could Earn £1.5 Billion In Annual Revenue And Savings By Legalizing Marijuana, Report Finds – Marijuana Moment
Marijuana Moment’s article on March 4 discusses the potential revenue impact that legalizing cannabis could have on the UK, with a mention of SSDP’s work. Transform’s psychedelic guidance came on the heels of a coalition of international advocates calling for an end to prohibition and instead for the legalization and regulatation all drugs. That report, produced in partnership with the
Join us for our next SSDP Hangout this Sunday, March 2nd
Join us on March 2nd at 7pm ET for a network-wide hangout! Meet other SSDP folks, and enjoy a Q&A session with candidates for our national board of directors before casting your vote! We hope to see you there! Zoom link to join here!
Meet the SSDP Board Candidates for 2025!
As the largest national youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs, SSDP thrives on the power of youth leadership. Each year, our members elect new student leaders to the Board of Directors, a vital role in shaping SSDP’s strategy, governance, and impact. Serving on the Board is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on nonprofit management experience while driving
Join SSDP at Psychedelic Buddhism 2025 on February 21 in New York City
Psychedelic Buddhism 2025 is a unique conference for open discussion on the intersection of Buddhist wisdom and psychedelic practice, offering tools and insights to empower and support our communities. Through presentations, interactive discussions & hands-on sessions, the event will share practical insights and build a supportive, evolving community of practice. The conference takes place on Friday, February 21st and Saturday, February
Top Marijuana Advocacy Organization Welcomes New Leader Who Sees ‘Opportunities To Make Progress’ In 2025 – Marijuana Moment
Lauren Daly has been named Marijuana Policy Project’s interim executive director. With a background in drug policy and civil rights advocacy—and years of experience in a fundraising capacity—the plan is to help elevate MPP’s work at a critical inflection point at the state and federal levels. In the years since, she’s also served in top roles at Students for Sensible
Shaleen Title on Cannabis Equity, Advocacy, and Passing the Torch – Cannabis & Tech Today
Shaleen Title, founder and director of the drug policy think tank Parabola Center, was interviewed by Mary Jane Gibson from Cannabis & Tech Today about how after two decades as a leading voice in the legal cannabis movement, Title is stepping back from drug policy work. We are grateful for the mention of Students for Sensible Drug Policy in the
We’re Hiring! SSDP Paid Internship Application 2025
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is the largest national youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs. With a Board of Directors primarily elected by and from our student and youth members, SSDP empowers young leaders to engage in the political process, advocate for evidence-based policies, and foster honest, open conversations about drugs and drug policy across the
Students For Liberty Announces Final Lineup for LibertyCon 2025 in DC – Global Newswire
LibertyCon International 2025 is taking place on February 7-8 at the Washington DC Downtown Westin. With students active in 111 countries, previous LibertyCon events have been hosted in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and South America. The theme of this year’s convention is From Impossible To Inevitable, focusing on the positive achievements in civil rights and economic freedoms happening in the world. Read
Integrating The News – Lucid News
We are grateful to Charley Wininger for mentioning SSDP in his timely piece, Integrating the News, that published today in Lucid News. With a post-prohibition future always a possibility in a new administration, we may wish to promote legislation on the state and/or federal level to ensure these medicines become readily available and accessible to those who most need them.
SSDP Virginia Tech in support of HB2775, Revitalize Hemp Act
Chapter leaders from Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Virginia Tech University stand in support of HB2775, a bill relating to the definition of hemp product. Also known as the Revitize Hemp Act.
Join us for SSDP’s Cannabis Week of Unity 2025
You are invited to join us for SSDP’s Cannabis Week of Unity 2025 taking place in Washington D.C. This year’s event does not overlap with 4/20. Due to the holiday that week, Congress is closed, so we will be lobbying the week afterwards. Main event activities are April 28 – May 1. Tentative Schedule April 27 – Arrival & Preparation April 28 – Education
SSDP Hangouts February 9 at 7PM ET
Join us on February 9th at 7:00pm ET for our next Students for Sensible Drug Policy network-wide hangout! Meet other SSDP folks, and enjoy a Q&A session with candidates for our national board of directors before casting your vote! Visit this Zoom link to join. Password is: Hangouts!
FSU DUI incidents spark concerns over campus safety and prevention efforts – FSU News
Florida State University News reports that driving under the influence (DUI) incidents at the end of the fall semester have sparked debates about campus safety and the effectiveness of FSU’s prevention efforts. Colin Scherzer, RSO leader for Students for Sensible Drug Policy at FSU (SSDP), pointed to binge drinking as a major concern. Read the article here.
Inauguration Integration with Global Psychedelic Society
SSDP is excited to collaborate with the Global Psychedelic Society (GPS) on a special Inauguration Integration event. The GPS is streaming this panel exclusively to in-person watch party events hosted by local Psychedelic Societies around the world. Find yours here! The event will feature a panel will feature: SSDP Local Policy Discussions led by SSDP’s Gina Giorgio at the Community Alliance
Canceled Marijuana Rescheduling Hearings Would Have Shut Out People Impacted By Criminalization (Op-Ed) – Marijuana Moment
Marijuana Moment published an op-ed co-authored by SSDP’s Executive Director, Kat Murti, and Chelsea Higgs Wise, MSW, the co-founder and executive director of Marijuana Justice. SSDP and Marijuana Justice are steering committee members of the United for Marijuana Decriminalization Coalition. Their article dives into the canceled marijuana rescheduling hearing that would have kicked off today. While the cannabis industry is seemingly divided
MLK Day 2025: Cannabis and Civil Rights – Canna Law Blog
On MLK Day 2015, we are thankful to the Canna Law Blog for encouraging readers that want to get active in cannabis policy reform to join SSDP! We are heading to Washington D.C. for our Cannabis Week of Unity to fight for cannabis decriminalization, and invite you to join us. More details coming soon. Read the blog article here.
Biden Commutes 2,500 Drug Offender Sentences
Breaking news today, January 17 2025 – President Biden commutes 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders convicted of crack cocaine offenses. This is nearly the same number of marijuana prisoners that still sit behind bars waiting to see whether he will live up to his campaign promises to free them. The Associated Press reported today that the most recent round of clemency
Biden commutes 2,500 crack sentences — as pot offenders wait to see if he will fulfill promise to free them – New York Post
With just days left of his Presidency, Biden commutes 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders yet leaves cannabis prisoners behind bars. The New York Post spoke to SSDP’s Executive Director, Kat Murti, on the subject. Read the article here.
This Week in Psychedelics – Tricycle Day
We are grateful to the psychedelics newsletter, Tricycle Day, for mentioning our DOI & DOC post-trial brief in their newsletter today. Right to research: Students for Sensible Drug Policy has filed its post-trial briefing, challenging the DEA’s proposal to schedule DOI and DOC. Read the entire briefing here.
THC ban may impact product access – The University Star
The University of Texas college newspaper, The University Star, featured an article today highlighting the potential THC ban in Texas and it’s impact on the community. SSDP Ambassador, Blake Coe, was quoted in the article. Ambassador of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Blake Coe said the ban is not a solution, but a reinstatement of past problems. “That [ban] doesn’t
Marijuana Moment Newsletter January 14, 2025
Thanks to Marijuana Moment for linking to our post-trial DOI & DOC brief in this week’s newsletter. Students for Sensible Drug Policy filed a post-trial brief in a Drug Enforcement Administration administrative court case concerning the agency’s proposed ban on two psychedelics. Learn more here.
Fight for your right to research – Boulder Weekly
Gina Giorgio, Director of Strategy and Development at Students for Sensible Drug Policy, wrote an op-ed in Boulder Weekly discussing our historic court case with the DEA defending the scheduling status of niche research chemicals DOI & DOC to protect psychedelic research. “None of us were experts on administrative hearings, we were just a couple of passionate scientists who wanted
