Action
WAKE FOREST SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY SUCCESSFULLY BANS THE BOX ON THEIR SCHOOL APPLICATION
Interview with Lindsey Galbo, Wake Forest SOM SSDP Chapter President Lindsey Galbo ‘19 is the Founder and President of the Wake Forest School of Medicine Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter. Lindsey and the rest of the Wake Forest SOM chapter have focused primarily on the intersection of harm reduction, scientific research, education, and policy change. They’ve worked with local
Action Alert: Tell Your Senators to Eliminate Appalling Sentencing Disparities Between Crack and Powder Cocaine
It is time to end the disparity in prison sentences between crack and powder cocaine-related offenses. Urge your Senators to vote YES on the EQUAL Act!In 1986, the Anti Drug Abuse Act created a 100:1 disparity between the federal mandatory minimum sentence for crack and powder cocaine. Almost a quarter century later, President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing
SSDP International Opens Registration for the Annual UN Training Webinar Series
Following the launch of the Second Edition of Drug Policy Reform at the United Nations: A Youth Advocacy Handbook, SSDP International is proud to open registration for the Annual UN Training Webinar Series.Both international and US network members are welcome to sign up using the SSDP UN Mailing List.
The European Drug Policy Working Group is Recruiting New Members!
Shaping its strategy around the EU Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 2021-2025, the Drug Policy Working Group is looking to expand youth participation in decision making and other democratic processes at a regional level. If you have ever wished to make tangible change in the drug policy landscape of your country and/or at the European level, joining this regional Working Group is the ideal starting point in your advocacy journey.
Announcing SSDP International’s Extraordinary Board Elections and General Assembly
In light of recent changes within the SSDP International team, we are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for network members interested in joining the SSDP International Board of Directors! Nominations will be open until August 30th, when the election candidates will be announced. On September 13th, online voting will open, and the successful candidates will be announced at the Extraordinary General Assembly on Monday the 20th of September.
SSDP’s European Committee is Recruiting New Members for its Harm Reduction Working Group
The SSDP European Committee is happy to open its doors to the freshly formed Harm Reduction Working Group. If you’re a chapter member, alumni, or Ambassador in Europe, then this is your chance to contribute to regional efforts while boosting opportunities and resources for your own local area.
Action: U.S Policy Council Collecting Comments for Senate Cannabis Legalization Bill
The Offices of Senator Schumer, Booker, and Wyden are accepting comments on specific parts of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), the Senate cannabis legalization bill released in July. The U.S Policy Council is collecting comments to submit on behalf of SSDP. Much like the MORE Act in the House, the CAOA would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled
SSDP Newsletter – July 2021
Note from Executive Director, Jason Ortiz ’08 Hello SSDP! As the new Executive Director of SSDP, I’m excited to share all the amazing work we’ve been doing over the last few months to pass cannabis laws, create opportunities in the psychedelic space, and continue to lift the voices of those most impacted by the war on drugs. If after reading
#SensibleSummer – How to Make the Best of Your Summer as a SSDPer
In some parts of the world summer is in full swing, and we’ve put together a bank of ideas to help you and your chapter make the most of your summer!
Less Than 50 Days Until International Overdose Awareness Day
With less than 50 days to go until International Overdose Awareness Day, now is the time to start planning your event, if you haven’t started already. For those who aren’t used to organising events, don’t worry, we have a fantastic bank of event ideas, big and small, created by the Penington Institute. There’s one for everyone! Advocacy Influencing policy is
Take Action for International Overdose Awareness Day 2021
This year is the 20th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day. With over half a million people dying as a result of drug use annually, it has never been more important. On the 31st of August every year, we publicly mourn, educate people on drugs to prevent overdose, and advocate for better drug policies. We are calling on SSDPers everywhere to run events as part of the campaign.
SSDP Sign-On Letter: Oppose Aerial Crop Eradication
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is circulating a sign-on letter for organizations and SSDP chapters to urge Congress to eliminate funding for aerial crop eradication in Colombia on the bases of environmental justice, human rights, public health, and sensible drug policy. In 2014, the World Health Organization found that Glyphosate, which is used in aerial fumigation, was and is responsible
Join The Team – Call for Global Fellow & Administration Officer
Students for Sensible Drug Policy International are looking for a Administration & Compliance Officer and a Global Fellow to join our team. Both positions are contractor positions, with a preferred start date of July 1st 2021. Please send your CV or resumé and cover letter to Róisín Downes at roisin@ssdp.org.
SSDP International is launching applications for the International Impact Grant on 15 June 2021!
SSDP International is launching applications for the International Impact Grant on 1 July 2021!
SSDP Sign-On Letter To Support the MORE Act
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is circulating a sign-on letter for organizations and SSDP chapters to call on House representatives to co-sponsor the MORE Act and bring it to the floor in June. The impact of a simple marijuana arrest on a young person’s life can be drastic. Before the Higher Education Act Aid Elimination Penalty was removed, thousands of
Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Lift Restrictions on Sentencing Juveniles to Life Without Parole
A week ago, the Supreme Court ruled to lift restrictions on hard-line sentencing and mandatory minimums—making it easier for juveniles to be sentenced to life without parole. The ruling is in favor of harsh sentencing and mandatory minimums—overruling precedent to reform the U.S criminal justice system and undermining decades of reform meant to bring compassion and reason to youth sentencing.
Statement on Congress Voting to Extend Trump-Era Class-Wide Scheduling and Mandatory Minimum Sentencing of Fentanyl Analogues
Written by Sarah Noon ‘18On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to extend the Trump-era scheduling of fentanyl analogues, chemically similar substances—an approach that fails to mitigate overdose deaths, to mitigate other harms associated with substance use, and expands the use of harsh mandatory minimum sentencing laws currently set to expire May 6th. Today, the Senate will vote on the
SSDP Action Alert – We Need Your Support To Fund Drug Research!
Original action alert language written by Lindsey Galbo ’19, Wake Forest University School of Medicine SSDP Chapter Leader and Scientific Research Issue Group Member As drug policy reformers, it is important for us to recognize the necessity of funding drug research to better understand factors that contribute to different types of substance use, new potential pharmacological and behavioral treatments, harm
Statement about the events that occurred in the FSDP Community Chat Facebook group
One Connecticut Marijuana Legalization Bill Promises Important Student Protections
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
U.S. Members – Take Our Limited Drug Decriminalization Policy Position Survey
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
Announcing SSDP International’s First General Assembly
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
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
Living in a Quarantine of Violence
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
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
