Blog
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
Organise a Screening: Taking Back What’s Ours!
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD) and DrugReporter to coordinate showings of their newly released docuseries ‘Taking Back What’s Ours: An Oral History of the Movement of People Who Use Drugs.’ Each episode is dedicated to different regions and countries, and how the movement developed there. It’s
Statement of Solidarity with the People of Nigeria
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
Young Nigerians Fight Against Police Brutality #EndSARS
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
We’re Hiring a Development Associate!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring for a new position, and this could be your chance to land your dream job! Working for SSDP is an 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
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 SSDP Kenya
This article was written by SSDP Kenya Chapter Leader Marveine Atieno ’19. I am Marveline Atieno, a student at the University of Nairobi studying Political science and international relations. I am an upcoming activist and I decided to start the chapter because the previous team all graduated. I joined SSDP to stand for the rights of students who are currently
Introducing SSDP King’s College London
This article was written by King’s College London Chapter Leader Emily Jones ’19 Hi, I’m Emily and I am a second-year student at King’s College London where I am studying a Pharmacology BSc. Aside from my degree, Music is a big passion for me and I have attended many music events and festivals over the past few years, often being
September 2020 Report Card
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
SSDP Country Highlight: Lebanon (Part 2)
This is the second part of our Global Country Highlight on Lebanon. If you have not seen the first part, please click here. Civil Society In my view, the NGOs working in Lebanon set a fantastic example for activists everywhere, covering key areas of policy change, network building, medical treatment, and harm reduction. Civil society’s interrelated web of activity demonstrates
Introducing Los Angeles Community College SSDP
Written by Lucca Pastore ‘20, Los Angeles Community College Chapter LeaderHow did you hear about SSDP?I heard about Students for Sensible Drug Policy through social media. Specifically Instagram, and even more specifically from an account called @25i_nbomeme. The admin of this account posts a lot of funny bilingual memes and also talks a lot about harm reduction on his page,
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
SSDP Country Highlight: Lebanon
Earlier this year, I was taken aback by civil society’s impressive commitment to drug policy reform and advocacy in Lebanon. As SSDP’s first Country Highlight, I’m excited to shine a spotlight on this beautiful and complicated country, to explore its drug laws, recent and important developments, and most importantly, share some of the fantastic work of civil society. In the
SSDP Statement on Breonna Taylor
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is enraged and disturbed over the decision made by the grand jury in the murder of Breonna Taylor to indict just one out of three officers involved with charges that were unrelated to her death. However, we are not surprised. The system that killed Breonna Taylor refuses to hold itself accountable time and time again.
SSDP Opens International Office
Students for Sensible Drug Policy has opened its International Office in Vienna, Austria. This historical move is an important step in the restructuring of SSDP’s Global Programs and will help SSDP’s operations become more reflective of the network’s global nature. Our new office is located at Impact Hub Vienna, an inspirational and diverse community of global changemakers. From there, Director
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
Today Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Controlled Substances Act
Written by Abhi Dewan ‘18, U.S. Federal Policy Liaison 50 years ago today, the House of Representatives voted to list marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, escalating the war on marijuana. Last week, the House was poised to remedy injustice for those impacted, but instead chose to postpone their scheduled vote on the MORE Act. Though the bill was
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
Bringing young people to the forefront of the AIDS response
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is currently in the process of developing its next Strategy for 2021 and beyond – and members of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and Youth RISE are making sure the voice of young people who use drugs is heard, and considerations for our needs is included. UNAIDS unites the efforts of
SSDP Statement on MORE Act Vote Postponement
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
August 2020 Report Card
This school year, many of our student members are starting their semesters during an unprecedented pandemic, with confusing campus reopening timelines, virtual classes, and a long lasting separation from their friends and fellow drug policy reformers. Despite the intense challenges of organizing during this time, our chapters and our members continue to show resilience in fighting the War on Drugs.
Statement of Solidarity with the People of Belarus
The featured image on this article was sourced from Legalize Belarus and their accounts of the early days of the protests. See their article here. Today marks the 32nd consecutive day of protests marked by an unprecedented level of police brutality in the country of Belarus. The demonstration period erupted on August 9, 2020, to protest widely alleged election fraud
Announcing our Interim Executive Directors
