News
Saying Farewell to the SSDP Chapter Activity Tracker
The Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Chapter Activity Tracker (CAT) was developed to gamify member engagement and facilitate the distribution of resources and scholarships to our chapters. The program was very successful in the years following it’s initial release, allowing chapters to compete with each other, learn from each other, and gain access to opportunities and resources along the
10 Days Left to Apply for Support. Don’t Punish Grant!
The Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action is a day that drug policy reform activists across the world join together in action to fight for drug policies based on human rights and harm reduction to counter the War on Drugs. There are small grants to support your activities, and the deadline for application is Friday, the 29th of April.
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
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
Making Noise in the South
SSDP Engages with Florida’s Emerging Cannabis Industry Recently, I took an autumn drive from Atlanta to Tallahassee, Florida, in order to help stakeholders lobby for sensible Cannabis reform at Florida’s State General Assembly. While cruising down an old state highway in Southern Georgia, lined with colorful leaves and farms whose abundant crops were ready for the harvest, I began to ponder
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.
We’re hiring two U.S. advocacy interns!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring two US advocacy interns! Working for SSDP is a great 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 of drug prohibition. SSDP is overseen by our Board of
SSDP International Launches the Second Edition of Drug Policy Reform at the United Nations: A Youth Advocacy Handbook
To fulfil a more extensive UN Strategy for 2021-2022, SSDP International is proud to release the Second Edition of the Youth Advocacy Handbook.
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.
SSDP submits comments on Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
September 1, 2021 The Honorable Cory Booker The Honorable Ron Wyden The Honorable Chuck Schumer Attn: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act Sponsoring Offices United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Submitted via email to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov. RE: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act — Students for Sensible Drug Policy: U.S. Policy Council Comments Dear Senators Booker, Wyden, and Schumer: On behalf of Students
Announcing New SSDP Promotions!
We are excited to announce two promotions for members of our team!Rob Hofmann ‘16 is now our Policy and Advocacy Director! In this role, Rob will be advancing drug policy reform by developing, implementing, and activating members around SSDP’s policy priorities. Other responsibilities include: Advising the SSDP team and members on policy mattersConducting research on current and upcoming legislation as
Get Your New Care Package for the New School Year!
As schools start bringing students back on campus, in-person recruiting for chapters is once again becoming a reality. Tabling, flyering, and other in-person recruitment strategies are key to developing a strong and long lasting chapter, so make sure you are incorporating a strong recruitment strategy with your chapter members! To help bring in the new school year and the first
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.
#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!
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.
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!
Statement on Biden Harris First Year Drug Policy Priorities
While we support expanding access to treatment and reducing barriers to young people who are seeking treatment, there are no steps being taken to support YPWUD that do not want to and will not stop using drugs. The administration’s approach to youth drug use does not align with their explicit commitment to “promot[e] harm reduction efforts.”
SSDP International’s First Annual Report (2019-2020) Has Been Released
Throughout 2019-2020, the whole world faced some serious challenges. In the face of these challenges, young drug policy activists showed tireless commitment to fighting for the rights or people who use drugs and advocating for policies grounded in human rights. This year, the resilience of our movement was put to the test and once again, we have proven the strength
Introducing SSDP Rwanda
This is an interview with Justin Nkunzimana ‘20, chapter leader of SSDP Rwanda Tell me a bit about yourself, what you study, your interests and why you decided to start a chapter. My name is Justin Nkunzimana and I am advocate for peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. I am student at the University of Rwanda and I am
Register Now – Drug Policy & Transformational Leadership SSDP Africa
Join us on Tuesday the 22nd of December at 7pm GMT/ 8pm WAT / 10pm EAT for this month’s SSDP Africa Leaders Training. Our topic this month is Drug Policy & Transformational Leadership and we are joined by some of the leading drug policy activists across the continent. Don’t forget to register for this event here. Learn more about our
SSDP Welcomes Carmen Jackman to the Team
Carmen Jackman (’19) has joined SSDP’s team as our new Development Associate! In this role, Carmen will be supporting SSDP’s fundraising efforts, building relationships, and managing SSDP’s monthly giving club. Carmen Jackman is a native Marylander and Washington, D.C. area-based designer, researcher, and organizer. She played Division 1 Tennis at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where she obtained
Another Historic Victory: The MORE Act Has Passed in the House of Representatives
In a historic victory for drug policy reform and a historic blow to marijuana prohibition in the United States, the MORE Act has passed in the House of Representatives. From the passing of the Controlled Substances Act and its implementation in 1971 to now, hundreds of thousands of people have been arrested for marijuana possession. It’s truly hard to overstate the
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
