Rob Hofmann
New Member Added to SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council Leadership Team
On December 1st, 2020, SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council Tactical Team voted to add Sarah Noon ‘18 as a member of our leadership team. Sarah will be the point person for our Campus Change, Cannabis, and Scientific Research Issue Groups. Sarah Noon recently graduated from Oakland Community College, where she was the president and founder of OCC’s Students for Sensible Drug
SSDP Is Hiring A U.S. Federal Policy Liaison!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring a U.S. Federal Policy Liaison! Working for SSDP is a great opportunity to serve our network of students and young people who are leading the charge to end the disastrous War on Drugs and heal from the harms of drug prohibition. SSDP is overseen by our
Action Alert: Start Making Calls for Georgia Voter Registration and GOTV!
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is encouraging all of our U.S. members, alumni, and supporters to start making calls and get out the vote for Georgia’s special election on January 5th. Drug policy reform and the progress we have made this year is on the line this run-off election. The MORE Act, which just passed the House of Representatives on
Another Historic Victory: The MORE Act Has Passed in the House of Representatives
In a historic victory for drug policy reform and a historic blow to marijuana prohibition in the United States, the MORE Act has passed in the House of Representatives. From the passing of the Controlled Substances Act and its implementation in 1971 to now, hundreds of thousands of people have been arrested for marijuana possession. It’s truly hard to overstate the
Action Alert: Congress To Vote On Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition This Week
Later this week, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, H.R. 3884. This will mark the first time that Congress vote on the legal status of marijuana since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act a half-century ago. If you’re reading this email, you have probably already taken action to get
Start Making Calls for Sensible Drug Policy
Drug decriminalization and psilocybin therapy are on the ballot for the first time ever in a U.S. state, making Election 2020 unprecedented for drug policy reform. With ballot measures on medical and adult-use cannabis legalization, psilocybin therapy, low-level drug decriminalization, and expanded funding for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services, our progress as a movement hinges on us activating voters
SSDP Network Surveys Are Due Today
Today is the last day to fill out our Member and Supporter Surveys! We have all experienced a year of change that has radically altered our personal lives and our advocacy. We need your feedback to center the desires of our network and to maintain the resiliency of the youth drug policy reform movement. If you were involved in a
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
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
Register to vote on National Voter Registration Day
Today is National Voter Registration Day, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy is partnering with the Cannabis Voter Project to make sure you’re registered to vote. If cannabis is important to you, then it’s critical to be an active and informed voter. In less than two minutes, you can register to vote in all upcoming elections. CLICK HERE to get
Welcoming two new interns to the SSDP Global team
Two weeks ago, we welcomed two new interns to support our team in the creation of our daughter office in Vienna. Beatrix Vas ‘19 – Global Development Intern Beatrix is primarily responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow the capacity of the Global Program and assess new opportunities for growth & expansion. Beatrix holds a Master of Public Administration
We’re hiring a Digital Communications Intern!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring a Digital Communications intern! Working for SSDP is a great opportunity to serve our network of students and young people who are leading the charge to end the disastrous War on Drugs and heal the harms of drug prohibition. SSDP is overseen by our Board of
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
