Rob Hofmann
SSDP Network Survey Deadlines Have Been Extended
To allow more time for our members and supporters to make their voices heard in our network surveys, we have moved the deadline to complete the Membership and Supporter Surveys back to this Friday, October 23rd. Your understanding, experience, and opinions about SSDP are important to us and our members. We highly encourage you to share this with your fellow
Global Member Highlight: Arvy Kumar ’18
Written by Jacob Chagnon ’17 Jacob: For this week’s Member Highlight, we’re highlighting Aravind ‘Arvy’ Kumar ‘18, former chapter leader at NYU Abu Dhabi and contributing member to the International Organizing Committee. Arvy, my immediate successor at the NYU Abu Dhabi chapter and a dear friend, now lives and works full time in Abu Dhabi since his graduation. Given the
Introducing Two More Interns on the SSDP Global Team
At the start of the Fall semester, SSDP renewed our Policy Internship (now called “U.S. Federal Liaison”) and found our new Digital Communications Intern!Abhi Dewan ‘18 – United States Federal LiaisonAbhi is primarily responsible for assisting the development and implementation of SSDP’s United States federal legislative strategies and co-facilitating our United States Policy Council. Abhi is an advocate, a life-long
Fill Out Our SSDP Membership Survey
Authors: Mariah Gaither ’16, Rob Hofmann ’16, Luis Montoya ’16 As our organization continues to grow and operate through this incredibly turbulent year, we must make sure that our work is centering the desires and advocacy of our members. What would you like SSDP to do more of, or do a better job at? Is there something you want to
Introducing SSDP’s United States Policy Council
Written by Abhi Dewan ‘18 and Rob Hofmann ‘16 Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s success in changing drug policy relies on the tireless work of our grassroots network of youth advocates who are passionate about the change they want to see in their world. That change has taken place on the campus, local, state, regional, nationwide, and international levels, with
SSDP’s Byrne JAG Grant Position
Written by SSDP’s Policy Council The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. § 3751(a)) is the primary way states, tribes, and local jurisdictions are provided federal criminal justice funding. JAG funding can be used for a variety of initiatives such as law enforcement; prosecution, courts, and indigent defense; crime prevention and education; corrections and community
Drug Policy and Digital Rights: June 30th and July 1st Calls for Action
By Erica Darragh ’14, SSDP Board Member and Sunrise Movement distributed organizer It is undeniable that we are living in a historic moment, comparable to the cultural awakening of the 1960s that fueled the Civil Rights, anti-war, and counterculture movements. The United States is being confronted with its racism during the most important election of our lifetimes, and ideas that
Our U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook has been updated!
Written by Rob Hofmann ‘16, U.S. Movement Building Fellow Our public-facing U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook document has been updated to include submissions through May 2020! As you may have noticed, we also changed the title of the document from the Campus Policy Gradebook to the U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook, since the positive and negative aspects highlighted in the Gradebook are
SSDP stands in solidarity with the youth-led climate movement for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day
Written by Erica Darragh ‘14, SSDP Board of Directors Chair and Sunrise Movement distributed organizer. 2020 is a turning point in US history, and not just because of the election or the pandemic. This year is the 50th anniversary of both Earth Day and the Controlled Substances Act, tandem moments in US political development that have now come full circle.
Introducing SSDP’s Oswego and Onondaga County Ambassador
Post by Taylor Masterson ‘20, Oswego and Onondaga County SSDP Ambassador How did you hear about SSDP? I heard about SSDP after reaching out on a festival’s social media account regarding an accidental overdose that occurred during an event I attended in December of 2019. It appalled me that this festival and its promoters knew that drug use would occur
10 SSDP Things You Can Do While Self-Isolating
Written by Róisín Downes ’15, SSDP’s Global Program Coordinator We hope you are doing well and are feeling okay during this stressful time. The COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on everyone. Check out this blog post for advice about staying safe as people who use drugs (PWUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, please familiarize yourself with the World Health
COVID-19 Global Harm Reduction Alert for People Who Use Drugs
This list was compiled by multiple people who wish to remain anonymous. Note: These tips were developed with a global perspective in mind. Certain items, such as the available medication-assisted treatment supply to take home, may vary depending on your location. Please check in with your own community members and direct service providers for the most accurate information. 1) Don’t
Conference sessions announced + registration deadline this week
Michigan SSDP Chapters Prepare Their Expungement Push at Civic Engagement Conference
Written by: Sarah Noon ‘18, Oakland Community College SSDP President Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapters from Oakland Community College and Wayne State University organized and coordinated a breakout session on the topic of sensible drug policy at Michigan Democratic Institution for Civic Engagement’s 2020 Student Engagement Conference. Sarah Noon ‘18, president and founder of OCC SSDP, serves as the
Illinois January 2020 Mini-Conference
Written by Rob Hofmann ’16, Evan Hazlett ’17, and Amy Hildebrand ’15 On January 11th, 2020, DePaul University’s SSDP chapter will be hosting a mini-conference for our Illinois SSDP chapters on DePaul’s campus in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The event will feature many different conversations about how to become involved with SSDP chapters across our global network, and will be highlighting
Updates from the 62nd Reconvened Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and How You Can Get Involved!
Written by Orsi Fehér ’16, SSDP’s European Global Fellow SSDP’s delegation to the 62nd reconvened session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) featured Jessica Steinberg from Oxford University, Panagiotis Sevris from SSDP Vienna, and Orsi Fehér, SSDP’s Global Fellow. While the session itself mainly dealt with administration and budgetary discussion and, as such, didn’t contain as much excitement as
Julian Hodge ’17 and Sean Cutler ’19 – Our Experience with Leading Decriminalize Santa Cruz
Editor Note: University of California Santa Cruz SSDP plans to utilize the connections they fostered with politicians, advocates, and community members during the Decrim Santa Cruz campaign to ultimately push for the decriminalization of all drugs. To read more about SSDP’s stance on limited drug legalization, please read our policy position document. Written by Julian Hodge ‘17 and Sean Cutler
Introducing Middlebury College SSDP
Written by Maria Bobbit-Chertock, Middlebury College SSDP Chapter Leader How did you hear about SSDP? At the beginning of the semester, I spoke with my Sociology professor, Rebecca Tiger, about how I wanted to start a harm reduction interest group on campus. She directed me to the SSDP website. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to
#Reform19 Conference Recap
We had an incredible time at Drug Policy Alliance’s International Drug Policy Reform conference, where we were proud to serve as co-hosts of the event, and we are grateful to our friends at DPA for providing scholarships to our members. More than sixty students attending on scholarship were able to connect and exchange information with drug policy reformers and harm
Introducing New York Law School SSDP!
Written by Alana Hans ’19, Chapter Leader of New York Law School SSDP How did you hear about Students for Sensible Drug Policy? I met Scott Cecil at the Cannabis Law Institute at George Washington University Law School and he told me all about SSDP. Scott also mentioned he was a regular guest on a podcast titled Marijuana Today. I
SSDP rockstars presenting at Reform Conference
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a proud co-host of The International Drug Policy Reform Conference, taking place on November 6th-9th in St. Louis, MO. Reform will bring together more than 1,500 people who believe that the War on Drugs is a fundamental threat to freedom and human rights. We are going to be hearing from a great variety of
Introducing SSDP Buffalo!
Written by Jack Quon ’19, Chapter Leader of SSDP Buffalo How did you hear about SSDP? I was referred to SSDP by Charleen from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) , in response to my questions about young people in the psychedelic community. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter?
Another Introduction from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis SSDP!
Written by Jessica Briscoe ‘19, Co-Founder of Indianapolis University Purdue University Indianapolis How did you hear about SSDP? My lovely friend, Amy Hildebrand ‘16! Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I wanted to get involved in SSDP because the War on Drugs has destroyed thousands of lives in the United States, and
Introducing the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Chapter!
Submitted by Jeremy LaReau ‘19, Co-Founder of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis SSDP I can’t remember when or how I first heard of SSDP, but I have known about SSDP for a long time. I’ve been following the work of MAPS and Drug Policy Alliance for years and likely heard about SSDP from one of those organizations. After moving
Introducing the Illinois State University SSDP Chapter!
Written by Joie Pecoraro ’19 and Hannah Westphal ’19, President and Vice President of Illinois State University SSDP Hannah Westphal — I first heard about SSDP last year when MAPS sent out an email about the SSDP conference in Chicago. Almost a year later, I was listening to an episode of the Psychedelics Today podcast featuring Vilmarie Narloch, and
