Uncategorized
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!
Drug policy reform must define the U.S. 2020 elections: a call to action
Introducing the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Chapter!
Submitted by Jeremy LaReau ‘19, Co-Founder of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis SSDP I can’t remember when or how I first heard of SSDP, but I have known about SSDP for a long time. I’ve been following the work of MAPS and Drug Policy Alliance for years and likely heard about SSDP from one of those organizations. After moving
Participate in the SSDP membership survey
The values and priorities of Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s student members, alumni, and supporters are where SSDP staff center our work. As a large, distributed grassroots network, we rely on a variety of communication modes to learn about what matters to our members, including our annual membership survey. We rely on the survey results to inform organizational priorities and
Meet our newest chapter, SSDP Uganda
The War on Drugs is a global one, and we cannot end it without supporting work internationally. Will you help us end it by making a gift to our International Activities Fund today? My name is Nyanda Julius ‘19 and I am the chapter leader of SSDP Uganda. I’m a Ugandan medical student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medicine and
Introducing the University of Houston SSDP chapter
We deserve MORE!
Historic legislation centers justice in cannabis reformToday, Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced groundbreaking companion legislation in the United States House of Representatives and Senate to address the state-federal conflict in marijuana laws by removing marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and establishing cannabis as a legal product which may be regulated by the states.
Use your CAT points to get to the Reform Conference this fall
Our friends at Drug Policy Alliance are hosting their biennial Reform Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this November and they’ve generously allocated scholarship funding for members of Students for Sensible Drug Policy! The Reform Conference is the largest conference on the issue of drug policy reform. It brings together more than 1,500 people who believe that the War on Drugs
Farewell from Jake Agliata ’11, welcome Róisín Downes ’15
In June 2014, I joined SSDP’s staff and began an unbelievable five-year journey. I have been privileged to work in a job I love amongst a team of co-workers who I count among my best friends. Perhaps most of all, I have been fortunate to earn the trust of the SSDP family to lead our global programs, a task I
How SSDP connected me to direct service work
Students for Sensible Drug Policy at the University of Pittsburgh began our relationship with Prevention Point Pittsburgh in the early fall of 2017, shortly after our chapter was founded, when some of our members chose to become trained as syringe exchange program volunteers. The volunteering I have done with Prevention Point Pittsburgh has taken place at their indoor syringe exchange
