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SSDP Event: Follow The Money! Taking Federal Action On Drug Policy Through Appropriations
Money. We all need it, and Congress has a lot of it. In July, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill to allocate almost $69.5 million to expand syringe service programs – quadrupling the funding that was allocated last year. The Biden Administration has been slowly adopting more harm reduction-related language when discussing issues of drug policy but it is
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 Accepting Applications for 3rd Cohort of Psychedelic Pipeline Career Development Mentorship Program
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
SSDP Welcomes Iulia Vatau ’20 as Our New Global Fellow
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is happy to announce that Iulia Vatau ’20 has joined the team as a Global Fellow for Europe and the UN. Iulia founded the University College London chapter and established a student-led harm reduction volunteering project based on the Just Say Know curriculum. She has been critical to the revival of Students for Sensible Drug
June 2021 – U.S Policy Council Monthly Round-Up
Projects: SSDP MORE Act Chapter and Allied Organization Sign-On Letter was publishedJune Hiatus – No meetings for the month of June 🙂U.S Policy Quick Links – everyone is welcome to build on and contribute to this living resource. Be sure to check it out and add to it, it is changing all of the time! All 117th Congress legislative endorsements
May 2021 – U.S Policy Council Monthly Round-Up
Projects: Appropriations Memos and Part 1 Slide Deck released, check U.S policy council website!SSDP MORE Act Chapter and Allied Organization Sign On LetterJune HiatusSpecial Pre-Hiatus US Policy Council Meeting Tuesday, June 1st 4-5pm monthly agenda hereU.S Policy Quick Links – everyone is welcome to build on and contribute to this living resource. Be sure to check it out and add
SSDP Press Release: Congress is Back for MORE to End Federal Marijuana Prohibition
The reintroduction of the MORE Act would remove federal penalties for marijuana and seek to repair the harms caused by decades of racially biased policing. Today, leaders in the House of Representatives reintroduced a landmark bill to end federal marijuana prohibition and begin to repair the harms caused by decades of disproportionate arrests and prosecutions. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and
February 2021 Report Card
This month, we announced the hiring of our new Executive Director, Jason Ortiz ‘08! In addition to being a longstanding alumnus of our network, Jason has been on the frontlines of the cannabis equity movement and has led over a dozen races for elected office as campaign manager and political consultant, bringing significant experience to the youth movement to end
Opinion Piece: After 50 Years of Failure, It’s Time to Rethink the Controlled Substances Act
Written by Trey Brasher ’19 and Elijah Zorro Ullman ‘15, SSDP Scientific Policy Council members (Written to publish on October 27th, 2020 for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) 50 years ago today, on Oct 27th, 1970, the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was signed into law. Solidifying treatment of drugs as a criminal issue rather than a medical or societal one, the
Farewell from Stacia
Today is my last day working for Students for Sensible Drug Policy after being hired right out of college 11 years ago. It’s hard for me to put into words how much this organization means to me, but I’m going to give it a shot. Even on the most difficult days (of which there were many), I still woke up
COVID-19 Global Harm Reduction Alert for People Who Use Drugs
This list was compiled by multiple people who wish to remain anonymous. Note: These tips were developed with a global perspective in mind. Certain items, such as the available medication-assisted treatment supply to take home, may vary depending on your location. Please check in with your own community members and direct service providers for the most accurate information. 1) Don’t
Illinois January 2020 Mini-Conference
Written by Rob Hofmann ’16, Evan Hazlett ’17, and Amy Hildebrand ’15 On January 11th, 2020, DePaul University’s SSDP chapter will be hosting a mini-conference for our Illinois SSDP chapters on DePaul’s campus in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The event will feature many different conversations about how to become involved with SSDP chapters across our global network, and will be highlighting
Our top 10 of 2019 + 6 days left to double your gift
Students for Sensible Drug Policy did some amazing things in 2019. 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 2020 even bigger by making a year-end gift. Your gift will
Julian Hodge ’17 and Sean Cutler ’19 – Our Experience with Leading Decriminalize Santa Cruz
Editor Note: University of California Santa Cruz SSDP plans to utilize the connections they fostered with politicians, advocates, and community members during the Decrim Santa Cruz campaign to ultimately push for the decriminalization of all drugs. To read more about SSDP’s stance on limited drug legalization, please read our policy position document. Written by Julian Hodge ‘17 and Sean Cutler
Today is Repeal Day: Help SSDP end prohibition
On this day in 1933, alcohol prohibition was repealed in the United States. To put it simply, alcohol prohibition did not work. During the thirteen years of prohibition, alcohol consumption and production never stopped, it was instead sold on the illicit market which allowed organized crime to flourish. Violence linked to criminal organizations increased, and consumption became dangerous because unregulated
Introducing SSDP Durham!
Here is an interview with Dasha Anderson, the chapter leader of our newest chapter, SSDP Durham! Tell me a bit about yourself, what you study, your interests and why you decided to start a chapter. My name is Dasha, I’m a Durham University 4th year student studying towards an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience. I’ve had an interest in drugs and
SSDP Report Card for September 2019
The SSDP Report Card for September is out! Read on for the latest in chapter news, see where our newest chapters have been founded, check out a growing list of events we’re proud to partner on, and — new this month! — a monthly roundup of Just Say Know drug education news and activities. Thank you for staying in touch
UN Update: Noteworthy Tidbits About The Progress in Global Cannabis Policy reform
On September 23, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) convened in Vienna for the 5th intersessional meeting. Here is the low-down. What is CND? And what is an Intersessional? The CND is the main decision-making body of the United Nations in all drug control related matters. They make those decisions every March and convene meetings between the March sessions to
Introducing our George Mason University SSDP chapter!
SSDP at Bass Center 2019
Letter from Betty Aldworth regarding election to the 4Front Ventures Board of Directors
Today, 4Front Ventures Corp, a publicly held company on the Canadian Securities Exchange, announced my appointment to its Board of Directors. When the invitation came, 4Front’s leadership highlighted the ways I can help strengthen their foundational commitment to advocacy and corporate responsibility while contributing my experience in governance and regulatory compliance. I’m tremendously excited to see how we can generate
Another Introduction from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis SSDP!
Written by Jessica Briscoe ‘19, Co-Founder of Indianapolis University Purdue University Indianapolis How did you hear about SSDP? My lovely friend, Amy Hildebrand ‘16! Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I wanted to get involved in SSDP because the War on Drugs has destroyed thousands of lives in the United States, and
SSDP receives grant from Threshold Foundation for the Just Say Know Psychedelic Pipeline!
