Written by Rob Hofmann ‘16 and Sarah Noon ‘18One of the understated impacts of the War on Drugs is the effect that criminalization of drugs has on young people. Young people (under 18 to 35), especially young people of color, make up a substantial amount of the arrests that occur throughout our half-century disastrous drug war. Because young people are
SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council is accepting feedback from our membership regarding our U.S. policy position on limited drug decriminalization measures, such as psilocybin decriminalization or ‘Decriminalize Nature’ campaigns. These measures range from decriminalizing certain plant-based psychedelics to making certain plant-based psychedelics lowest law enforcement priorities. Currently, “SSDP does not prioritize a strategy to decriminalize, legalize, or regulate currently illegal drugs
We are thrilled to announce that SSDP International’s inaugural General Assembly will take place virtually on the 29th of January 2021. During the General Assembly, SSDP International will vote in it’s first cohort of board members, vote on bylaw changes, and vote on an amended international mission. Voting will open on the 26th of January and conclude during the General
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
This is the second part in our series “Eliminating Violence against Women Who Use Drugs”, see the first part here. The featured image on this article was sourced from the UN Women Social Media Trello. Find more images to share from this campaign here. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marks the beginning of
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
This is the first of our series “Eliminating Violence Against Women Who Use Drugs”, see part two here. The featured image on this article was sourced from the UN Women Social Media Trello. Find more images to share from this campaign here. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marks the beginning of
Written by Abhi Dewan ‘19, U.S. Federal Policy Liaison November 3rd, 2020 was a date many of us were anxiously awaiting. Though it wasn’t until November 7th that we got the complete picture, on the 3rd we knew we’d won. Drug policy reform ballots across the nation toppled the old dogmas surrounding drug use. Oregon became the inaugural state to
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
Students for Sensible Drug Policy stands in solidarity with the people of Nigeria protesting against the human rights abuses and police brutality committed by the Nigerian police force, particularly the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, also known as SARS. We condemn the actions of the Nigerian government, especially the infringing on the people’s right to protest by using violence and brutality, and
This report is written by our African Development Consultant, Moronfolu Adeniyi ’14, based on his experiences on the ground in Ogun State. More than a week ago now, police officers in their usual habits harrassed (shot) a young man in Ughelli part of Delta State. It was thought to be police from the common unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) because
As Students for Sensible Drug Policy is dedicated to making sure that young people from across the world are at the center of drug policy reform, over the last month we have rolled out some exciting new program changes. Alongside opening our International Office in Vienna in September, on October 1st, Róisín Downes ‘15 and Orsi Feher ‘16 signed the
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
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
Delaying the MORE Act is Postponing Justice for those Harmed by Marijuana Prohibition Students for Sensible Drug Policy is disappointed in the announcement to postpone the U.S. House vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Opportunity (MORE) Act (HR 3884), which had been announced for a vote the week of September 21st. This news is particularly disappointing because next week
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
SSDP’s UK committee stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and those currently protesting against police brutality in the US, the UK and across the globe. George Floyd was an unarmed black man who was killed after a police officer from Minneapolis, USA, kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes, while telling the police officers surrounding him
Got a spare 15 minutes? The Global Drug Survey wants to know about your drug and alcohol use during COVID-19. The Global Drug Survey (GDS) runs the world’s biggest annual drug survey. Consistent with their mantra of having “honest conversations about alcohol and other drugs”, the GDS asks people around the world about their recreational drug habits through a confidential