Blog
We need your help in growing our infrastructure to continue the momentum
SSDP’s policy team has had some incredible victories this year, and we need your help in growing our infrastructure to continue the momentum! In 2022 alone, we have launched campaigns at the local, state and federal level. Dollar for dollar, SSDP has been incredibly effective at using our limited resources to advance sensible policies across the country. See below for
ARE YOU SENSIBLE?
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is running our annual Sensible Society membership drive from now through May 31st. The Sensible Society is SSDP’s monthly giving club. Since its launch in 2014, the Sensible Society has made it possible for tens of thousands of SSDPers to have the resources and training they need to mobilize worldwide and fight for sensible drug
Students partner with testing manufacturer to provide free harm reduction tools to youth
Luis Montoya luis@ssdp.org Cameron Scally Cameron@dosetest.com March 28, 2022— Students for Sensible Drug Policy and DoseTest are partnering to expand access to drug checking kits and drug checking services for young people who use drugs and their peers across the United States. The partnership was borne out of a mutual desire to make these potentially life saving harm reduction tools
For Immediate Release: Michigan Initiative for Community Healing Certified to Begin Signature Gathering
Primary contacts: Myc Williams Myc@decrimnaturemi.org 305-304-0466 Julie Barron Julie@decrimnaturemi.org March 28, 2022 For Immediate Release: Michigan Initiative for Community Healing Certified to Begin Signature Gathering Lansing, Michigan — The Michigan Board of State Canvassers (BOSC) certified that the Michigan Initiative for Community Healing could begin collecting the required 340,047 signatures needed by June 1st to qualify for
Darkhei Rephua and SSDP Present: Bicycle Day Psychedelic Pseder
What are your plans for Bicycle Day this year? Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Darkhei Rephua are putting on our first-ever Bicycle Day Psychedelic Pseder! The Psychedelic Pseder will be an evening of song, stories, and psychedelic celebration of Pesach (Passover), holistic liberation, LSD, and the launch of WeLoveAcid.com A seder is a Jewish ritual feast that takes place
Open Letter on Youth Engagement to Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime
Students for Sensible Drug Policy Foundation and Students for Sensible Drug Policy International, alongside 64 NGOs, call on the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to provide transparency on youth involvement in decision making and ensure their meaningful participation in the development and implementation of drug policies and programs. Signatories include 19 youth organizations, 13
Press Release: University of Michigan SSDP Launches Campaign to Decriminalize Drug Possession, Fund Proven Recovery Services in Ann Arbor
Primary contacts Matt Dargay, (248)-762-6976, mdargay@umich.edu – President, University of Michigan Students for Sensible Drug Policy Kylee Crook, (509)-703-8490, kycrook@umich.edu – Community Organizing and Events Coordinator, University of Michigan Students for Sensible Drug Policy For immediate release _____________________________________________ Student Drug Policy Organization Launches Campaign to Decriminalize Drug Possession, Fund Proven Recovery Services in Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, March 16th, 2022 – After
Introducing Drexel University SSDP
Written by Justin Serwinski ‘21, Madi Rockett ‘21, and Naomi Shifman ‘21 How did you hear about SSDP? After Justin’s initial outreach to start an organization focused on psychedelic medicine at Drexel, he met with a few faculty and students who appeared interested. During our first meeting, a faculty member discussed how it might be advantageous to integrate with SSDP
JSK ROUNDUP – Announcing the 3rd Edition!
Panel: Drug Legalization as a Public Health Measure
Every year, there are more than 1.5 million drug arrests in the United States. More than 80% of these arrests are for possession only. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have already decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and some are exploring the merits of decriminalizing other drugs. While drug decriminalization is a step in the right
Joint Statement from the Board: Bylaws, Rules, & Congress
The Board of Directors has recently voted to change the number of years for Director terms from 2 years to 3 years. This decision was reached by the board for the reasons below: An additional year provides more opportunities for projects and professional developmentProvides continuity as we continue to transition as an organization Standard Non-profit Board of Directors have a term
The MORE Act Is Coming Up For a Vote!
If you’re reading this email, you have probably already taken action to get your representatives to sign on to the MORE Act. We are anticipating another vote on the MORE Act in the next few weeks. Please take action to urge your House representative to vote YES on MORE!The vote is going to be close, and we need to keep
Feature: Kufikiri Imara
This is a more accessible, easier to read version of our social media posts that you can find on ohr Facebook and Instagram pages. “Black Futures Month is a visionary, forward-looking spin on celebrations of Blackness in February”. Today, we are featuring Kufikiri Imara and his poetry! Bio: Kufikiri Imara; born and raised on unceded Huichin territory of the Ohlone
JUST SAY KNOW DRUG EDUCATION ROUNDUP – January 2022
Huge Victory Against Aerial Crop Eradication in Colombia!
Thanks to the persistent grassroots resistance by Indigenous communities in Colombia like the Nasa Tribe, Colombia’s Constitutional Court has paused the aerial fumigation of coca plants, ruling that the government failed to consult communities affected by the spraying of toxic chemicals onto their land. The Court ruled that the Duque administration must fully consult with potentially affected communities before the
SSDP 2022 Award Nominations Are Open
Every year at our annual conference, Students for Sensible Drug Policy recognizes the exceptional achievements of our members, chapters, alumni, and allies. While SSDP will not be hosting an international conference this year, we will be hosting a virtual award ceremony and hopefully gathering in person this fall to celebrate our award winners and nominees from the last three years.
February Newsletter 2022
Note from the ED 📝 If you thought 2021 was an eventful year for drug policy, 2022 is going to be even better! We have a multitude of campaigns launching this year including a statewide ballot measure in Michigan, HBCU outreach in partnership with SMART, and efforts to ensure harm reduction programs are available at every university in the country.
SSDP and SMART to partner on HBCU outreach campaign to increase diversity in drug policy
Primary contacts: Jason Ortiz Executive Director, SSDP jason@ssdp.org, (860) 639-8101 Nadir Pearson Founder and CEO, SMART nadir@studentmmj.com For Immediate Release: SSDP and SMART to partner on HBCU outreach campaign to increase diversity in drug policy Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Student Marijuana Alliance for Research and Transparency launch co-branded HBCU outreach campaign February 1st, 2022— Students
California State University Long Beach: SSDP Strengthens California Network
Interview with Rachael Gomez: President and Founder of California State University Long Beach SSDP SSDP’s Outreach Team is excited to announce the formation of a new chapter at the University of California Long Beach. Since getting started, the chapter has been actively organizing with fellow SSDPers in the Southern California area, connecting with community stakeholders and allies, and are learning
Apply to Become a Candidate for SSDP’s Board of Directors!
This year, the SSDP Congress will convene from April 7th – 8th, 2022, and provide each chapter in the network with the opportunity to elect new student members to the Board of Directors, and to vote on resolutions for the organizations. ELECTING STUDENT MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS As a nonprofit organization, SSDP is governed by the Board of
Missoula SSDP successfully pressures Administration to protect student health and safety
The University of Montana SSDP chapter (Missoula SSDP) had a major win in September of 2020 when a unanimous decision to adopt their proposed medical amnesty policy was announced by their Student Government, which was the beginning of their efforts to bring medical amnesty protections on campus. I had the opportunity to speak to Vice President and Treasurer Michael Layeux
Top 10 Drug Policy Reform Moments of 2021
by Robert Hofmann and Mike Liszewski With 2021 drawing to a close, Students for Sensible Drug Policy is reflecting on the drug policy milestones and victories over the past twelve months. Despite the challenges to political organizing that COVID provided, SSDPers and other drug policy reform advocates were busy advancing sensible laws and programs to end criminalization, reduce the harms
Your 2021 SSDP Wrapped
Students for Sensible Drug Policy did some amazing things in 2021. Our thoughtful, bright, and impressive young activists made huge strides towards SSDP’s vision of a post-prohibition future where safety, justice, and education are prioritized in drug policy. There’s no better time than right now to help us make 2021 even bigger by making a year-end gift. Your tax-deductible gift
Happy Holidays!
Friends, We wish you a gentle, safe, and healthy holiday season. Thank you for being a part of our community. With love, Your SSDP team From now until December 31st, all gifts made to SSDP will be matched up to $50,000. Make a gift today, and your contribution will go twice as far to support young people and sensible drug
We’re behind
At Students for Sensible Drug Policy, we deeply value all of our community members, whether they are alumni, students, youth, funders, or allies. We believe that our community should always be informed about our programs and financials, so I wanted to share with you our progress towards our fundraising goal this year. The fact is, we are behind. We are now
