Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s October Report Card is out!

The United States 2020 election has now largely concluded. Although it took a few days to tally the final votes before a Presidential winner emerged, there was one clear winner right from election night: drug policy reform. Ballot measures for medical and adult-use cannabis legalization passed in blue, red, and swing states, proving that the failure of marijuana prohibition is visible across partisan lines. 

Most notably, Oregon took a massive step towards ending the War on Drugs by decriminalizing the personal possession of all drugs, redirecting funds that were used to prosecute and incarcerate people to expand access to treatment, housing, and harm reduction services. This major victory for our movement is evidence that after decades of fighting, we have shifted to a new paradigm where drug use is treated as a public health issue and not a criminal one. Oregon also legalized psilocybin therapy, giving individuals in the state access to a breakthrough therapy for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. 

Despite challenges with virtual learning and country lockdowns, our chapters are ready to play a major role in overturning the War on Drugs. In October, we interviewed members starting new chapters in the UK, Kenya, Burundi, and the United States on our blog. They understand that recruiting and building a chapter during COVID-19 will prove challenging, but have the drive and thoughtfulness to harness the energy of our time to create lasting, positive change. 

Please enjoy our October Report Card.

Action Alerts 

• U.S. members: Join our U.S. Policy Council using the form here to build off of the momentum of our latest drug policy wins 
• All members: Sign up for our United Nations training series before November 20th

New Activists and Chapters

• SSDP Burundi
• University of Arkansas Fayetteville
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of Connecticut Hartford
• University of Washington

CAT leaderboard

• SSDP UCL
• University of California Santa Cruz
• Wake Forest University School of Medicine
• Occidental College
• Michigan State University
• Oakland Community College
• North Dakota State University
• Western Washington University
• Montana State University
• University of Wyoming

Stats

• SSDP has a new presence in 2 countries
• 8 drug policy reform ballot measures passed during the U.S. 2020 election
• Over 30 members of the SSDP Africa Network engaged in harm reduction trainings

Network highlights

• SSDP University of College London (UCL) held an Instagram Live session with the Justice Collective to discuss drug policy issues including mental health, narcofeminism, race, and harm reduction.
• SSDP UK designed a “Fresher Harm Reduction” leaflet & distributed it to multiple universities across England
• SSDP UCL held a “The Nightcrawlers” documentary screening with guest speakers Q&A with Raffy Lerma & Naomi Burke Shyne
• SSDP Nigeria participated heavily in #ENDSARS both in-person and online.

SSDP in the news

• ASUM passes Good Samaritan resolution, campus housing onboard – Montana Kaimin
• More groups voice support — and opposition — to the legal weed ballot question – NJ.com
• Arizona to vote on recreational marijuana in upcoming election – The State Press
• Stop the Tragic Loss of Life: Protect Students & Young People – VolteFace Magazine
• University of Montana students pushing for Good Samaritan act – KPAX-TV
• Hemp Lobbying With Evan Nison Of NORML – Ministry of Hemp
• Schools And NCAA Could Ban Marijuana Sponsorships Under Bill To Let Student Athletes Monetize Their Success – Marijuana Moment

From the blog

• Sign Up For Our United Nations Training
• Introducing UConn Hartford SSDP
• Introducing SSDP Burundi
• Start Making Calls for Sensible Drug Policy
• SSDP Network Surveys Are Due Today
• SSDP Network Survey Deadlines Have Been Extended
• Organise a Screening: Taking Back What’s Ours!
• Statement of Solidarity with the People of Nigeria
• Young Nigerians Fight Against Police Brutality #EndSARS
• Global Member Highlight: Arvy Kumar ‘18
• Introducing SSDP Kenya
• Introducing SSDP King’s College London
• September 2020 Report Card
• SSDP Country Highlight: Lebanon (Part 2)
• Introducing Los Angeles Community College SSDP

Upcoming events and days of action

These events include those which are hosted by SSDP global, or by SSDP chapters, or in which we are partners or co-hosts, or feature an SSDP member as a speaker. If your chapter is hosting an event that you’d like listed, please let your SSDP staff member know. Check the “Member benefits” section for event discount codes!

• November 13 | Online | Forging a path to success: a tale of drug policy reform in West Africa
• November 25 | Worldwide |International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
• December 1 | Online | Asamblea Internacional Cannabica with Luis Montoya ‘16, Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch ‘09, PsyD, and Jason Ortiz ‘09 
• December 1 | Worldwide | World AIDS Day
• December 2-4 | Online | MJBizCon
• December 10 | Worldwide | International Human Rights Day
• December 13 | Online | The Microdosing Movement
• February 20, 2021 | Online | Thank You Plant Medicine
• April 17, 2021 | Washington, DC, USA | National Cannabis Festival

Recommended reading and resources

• Rob Hofmann ‘16: Oregon decriminalizes possession of street drugs, becoming first in nation
• Rachel Wissner ‘11: Drug Policy Reform Won the Election
• Róisín Downes ‘15: Taking Back What’s Ours – An Oral History of the Movement of People Who Use Drugs (Docuseries) 
• Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, PsyD ‘09: A Nurse’s Call for Keeping the Human in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
• Rory O’Brien ‘19: The Waiting Game: A Powerlessness That’s Long Harmed Drug Users
• Orsi Fehér ‘16 Psychedelics and Mental Health in the COVID-Era

Member Benefits

• Dip Devices’ Dipper – Get 15% off and give 15% to us with code “SSDP15”
• Dip Devices’ EVRI – 1% of all sales go to SSDP & MPP 
• Asamblea Internacional Cannabica – Use the discount code “SSDP10” to bring registration down to $10
• Work with NisonCo to propel your organization through public relations in the recreational cannabis, medical marijuana, and hemp industries.
• Join Arcview Women’s Investor Network for Tales from the Top – SSDP gets 25% of revenue share 
• Join The Arcview Group on Thursday, November 12th for Arcview Access™ – Cannabis Gamechanger- Financial Services
• Get books from our Recommended Reading list and give back at the same time
• Gift your credit card rewards to SSDP with Charity Charge 
• Shop to give back with iGive, Giving Assistant, and Amazon Smile
• Eco-Ag U Online from Acres U.S.A. – Get 15% off of any course or rewatch with discount code “SSDP15”
• Oaksterdam University – Get $100 off any course till 2021 with the code “SSDP100”

Jobs and opportunities

• Consultant – Facilitate reflection workshop – YouthRISE
• Consultant – Report on Universal Health Coverage & Young People Who Use Drugs – YouthRISE
• Automation Technician – Dr. Bronner’s
• Bulk Manufacturing Operator – Dr. Bronner’s
• Employment Specialist – Dr. Bronner’s
• Packaging Engineer – Dr. Bronner’s
• Recycling and Waste Diversion Coordinator – Dr. Bronner’s
• R&D Technician – Dr. Bronner’s
• Senior eCommerce Manager – Dr. Bronner’s
• Social Media Community Specialist – Dr. Bronner’s
• Volunteers Vacancy – Harm Reduction International
• Consultant – Eurasian Harm Reduction Association