Blog
Support Illinois Overdose Prevention Sites!
Overdose Prevention Sites (OPSs) are life-saving programs where drug users can administer their drugs safely to ensure the risk of overdose diminishes. OPSs remove those struggling with substance use from the streets and into a safe environment that helps connect them to treatment and essential resources related to housing, mental health support, and more. Illinois is hoping to pass HB0893,
7 Reasons SSDP Opposes Criminalization of 7-OH: A Call for Compassionate, Evidence-Based Policy
At Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), we believe that science, compassion, and autonomy—not fear and misinformation—should guide public health decisions. The recent push to criminalize 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a natural compound found in kratom, is yet another example of the failed War on Drugs approach that harms people rather than protecting them. Here’s what you need to know—and why SSDP
SSDP Joins Letter to Protect 7-OH (Kratom related Substance)
A broad coalition of consumer advocates and drug-policy reform groups recently sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jim Jordan, encouraging Congress not to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound related to kratom. The entire letter is included at the bottom of this blog post. The letter argues that the FDA’s push to schedule 7-OH under the Controlled Substances
SSDP’s Sensible Soirée to Kick-off Reform Week in Detroit on November 12
SSDP is gathering together in Detroit, MI next week for Drug Policy Alliance’s Reform Conference. Our staff, board members, chapter leaders, and ambassadors from coast to coast will be attending the conference, hosting an overdose prevention workshop, and leading panel discussions. We’re hosting a welcome party on Wednesday, November 12 and all are invited to attend! You do not need
SSDP’s Hosts Lobby Days in Pennsylvania to Legalize Cannabis
SSDP’s PA Cannabis Day of Unity brought together a bipartisan coalition in support of legalizing cannabis for adult use in Pennsylvania. On Monday, October 27, SSDP hosted a booth in the Main Rotunda of the State Capitol, and dropped off literature to the PA House & Senate in support of cannabis legalization. The following morning on Tuesday, October 28, SSDP
SSDP Testifies on Age Protections in Massachussetts
On 10/20/25, SSDP Executive Director, Kat Murti, testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in support of An Act to Clarify the Minimum Age for the Sale and Purchase of Adult-Use Products (H.330/S.221). H.330/S.221 directly addresses Massachusetts law with a confirmation that the statewide age for purchasing legal substances (including alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco) is
California’s Campus Overdose Prevention Act is signed into law
We are excited to share that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 602, the Campus Overdose Prevention Act, into law. The bill protects students from receiving disciplinary action when they call for assistance or are victims of an overdose-related incident. Current campus policies leave students vulnerable to suspension for saving lives and discourage help-seeking behaviors, perpetuate stigma, and increase
Call for Abstracts and Posters for the 4th Annual Florida Harm Reduction Conference
SSDP is proud to be a co-sponsor for the 4th Annual Florida Harm Reduction Conference taking place at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront from January 26-29, 2026. The call for abstracts and posters are now open. We invite submissions that advance harm reduction practice, research, policy, and community empowerment, especially those centering marginalized, under-resourced, or historically excluded populations. The theme
Breaking Waves in Raleigh: Veterans, Lawmakers, and Advocates Gather for In Waves and War Screening
Last week in Raleigh, we had the privilege of co-hosting a powerful evening with VETS: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition, Democratic Representative Eric Ager, and Republican Senator Bob Brinson at the Alamo Drafthouse. Together, we brought community members, Veterans, researchers, and bipartisan policymakers into the same room for a screening of the award-winning documentary In
Celebrating Community, Connection, and Psychedelic Policy at the 4th Annual Gathering of the Pearl
Last week, I had the honor of joining The Pearl Institute for their 4th Annual Gathering of the Pearl at the Highland Events Center in Asheville, NC, a night of connection, celebration, and renewal. The evening kicked off with a special gratitude party for sponsors on the rooftop and we enjoyed Asheville’s finest musicians and artists, a memorable dance party,
Stop Cannabis Recriminalization in Massachusetts!
Two dangerous ballot initiatives, 25-09 and 25-10, threaten to undermine cannabis legalization in Massachusetts. Since Massachusetts voters legalized adult-use cannabis in 2016, the state has reduced arrests, lowered youth use rates, and created a thriving, regulated industry–but all this is at risk if these measures pass. Don’t let prohibitionists take away the great progress Massachusetts has made in advancing cannabis equity! If passed,
Support for AB 602, California’s Campus Overdose Prevention Act
SSDP is submitting a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office urging him to sign AB 602, the Campus Overdose Prevention Act. The bill will protect students from receiving disciplinary action when they call for assistance or are victims of an overdose-related incident. Shifting campus responses from punishment to health-centered approaches through counseling, education, and treatment options ensures students can
SSDP Hangouts return with a Back to School Happy Hour on Sept 25 at 7 PM
Join the SSDP’s Chapter Networking Collective for our next virtual hangout on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 PM ET on zoom. Come hang out with your SSDP family, give and get advice for a successful semester, and let SSDP national leaders know how they can support you. Visit this Zoom Link to join. All are welcome to attend.
Law & Justice Committee Convenes on October 1
SSDP’s Law & Justice Committee will be hosting a meeting on Wednesday, October 1st at 12:00 PM PT, 3:00 PM ET. We invite all attorneys, law students, pre-law track undergraduates, and other subject matter experts to join. Anyone in the SSDP community that feels called to join may apply. The committee will meet every six weeks. Please complete the Law &
Oaksterdam enrolls live cannabis & hemp training programs starting mid-September
Our educational partners at Oaksterdam University will host three amazing live training programs starting mid-September that may interest you in getting future-ready. Oaksterdam University is the global leader in cannabis education, providing the highest quality training to entrepreneurs, regulators, educators, and people interested in a career in the cannabis industry. These programs combine real-time Zoom classes with nationally recognized experts with
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act Has Been Reintroduced
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) applauds the reintroduction of the MORE Act as a critical step toward dismantling the failed war on cannabis. For far too long, cannabis has remained classified as a Schedule I substance; defined as having a “high potential for abuse with no recognized medical use.” Despite 24 states fully legalizing cannabis and 47 states permitting
Evidence and Science-Based Approaches in Drug Policy – United Nations
Written by Jackson Rund, Lake Superior State University SSDP In July, I joined two fellow SSDP representatives, Zach Johnson from Fordham University and the New York Community Chapter, and Jorge Valderrabano from the New York Community Chapter at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Together, we formed part of SSDP’s
Pennsylvania Cannabis Legalization: A Bipartisan Bill for Adult Use
We are excited to announce a bipartisan cannabis legalization bill that SSDP is supporting in Pennsylvania! This is the best chance for a unified approach to get adult use passed in PA, and we need your help. Please read more to learn how you can join us in the fight for legalization. WHAT IS THE BILL? PA SB120 is “An Act
Beyond the New Frontier – Arctic Visions Conference & SSDP Fundraiser This Week
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is dedicated to growing a strong and diverse nationwide network of advocates united to end the War on Drugs. We are eager to meet with local ambassadors in Anchorage, Alaska this week as we travel beyond the new frontier to build community, share knowledge, and expand our membership. Join us at the Arctic Visions Psychedelic
Introducing SSDP’s Law & Justice Committee
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is excited to invite you to join our new Law & Justice Committee! This committee is a space for people interested in legal advocacy—lawyers, law students, and anyone interested in leveraging the law to end the War on Drugs and mitigate the harms of it. The committee will track drug policy, identify opportunities for
SSDP Hosts “Anchored In Altered States” in Anchorage on August 14
Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) for Anchored In Altered States, a thought-provoking networking event and documentary screening at The Nave in Anchorage on Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM AKDT. The day before SSDP participates in the Arctic Visions Psychedelics Conference, we’re excited to host an evening gathering to bring together community leaders and
SSDP’s Gina Giorgio Appointed to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health
North Carolina is home to the 8th largest Veteran population in the US, with around 619,000 Veterans living in the state. 29.5% of NC Veterans have a disability, according to US Census data. This makes the NC task force an important step forward in supporting the state’s Veterans. North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health (NCIOM) is
North Carolina’s Psychedelic Medicine and Veterans Mental Health Advocacy Day Marks a Major Step Forward
By Gina Giorgio, Director of Strategy and Development at Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and Founder of the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition (NCPPC) On June 10th, North Carolina took a meaningful step in the movement toward mental health innovation. Over 30 advocates, veterans, doctors, clinicians, researchers, and policy leaders gathered at the North Carolina General Assembly for an
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States Submitted to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women under the Communications Procedure by Students for Sensible Drug Policy, August 1, 2025 Introduction The global “War on Drugs” has served as a mechanism for systemic oppression, disproportionately harming marginalized populations while reinforcing entrenched racial,
FDA & DEA Move to Criminalize 7-OH
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classify 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Health & Human Services sent a press release this past Tuesday, July 25, that the FDA is taking steps to restrict 7-OH products. SSDP strongly opposes
