Blog
What It Means For Us: 2020 U.S. General Election
Written by Abhi Dewan ‘19, U.S. Federal Policy Liaison November 3rd, 2020 was a date many of us were anxiously awaiting. Though it wasn’t until November 7th that we got the complete picture, on the 3rd we knew we’d won. Drug policy reform ballots across the nation toppled the old dogmas surrounding drug use. Oregon became the inaugural state to
October 2020 Report Card
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
Drug Policy Reform Won The Election
Last night, drug policy reform was the clear winner in the United States 2020 election. Students for Sensible Drug Policy was honored to work on seven winning statewide initiatives this year and we congratulate the successful campaigns on this stunning victory for drug policy reform. In an unprecedented move, Oregon voters turned out to overwhelmingly support the decriminalization of all
Introducing University of Washington SSDP
Written by Lukas Metzner ‘19, University of Washington SSDP Chapter Leader How did you hear about SSDP? In sophomore year, my partner, who goes to another school, told me about an awesome club she joined that worked on drug policy and education. The work they were doing and the community they were building sounded awesome, so I wanted to get
Sign Up for our United Nations Training
Are you interested in global drug policy? Would you like to learn more about the United Nations and how Students for Sensible Drug Policy advocates there? Sign up for our United Nations training series! SSDP has been advocating at the United Nations for better drug policies for over five years. Every year we send a delegation of SSDPers to Vienna,
Introducing UConn Hartford SSDP
Written by Sam Evans ‘20, UConn Hartford SSDP Chapter LeaderHow did you hear about SSDP? I first heard about SSDP through an event that Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) held several years back and have also seen SSDP mentioned on maps.org.Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I wanted to get involved and establish
Introducing SSDP Burundi
Lambert Nduwayezu is a writer, blogger and actor, he studied Economics at the University of Ngozi. A libertarian, he believes that individual and economic freedom is the only way for our Africa to prosper and dreams of an Africa where limited government serves the rule of law. So everyone is free to make their choice without any government intervention. He
Start Making Calls for Sensible Drug Policy
Drug decriminalization and psilocybin therapy are on the ballot for the first time ever in a U.S. state, making Election 2020 unprecedented for drug policy reform. With ballot measures on medical and adult-use cannabis legalization, psilocybin therapy, low-level drug decriminalization, and expanded funding for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services, our progress as a movement hinges on us activating voters
SSDP Network Surveys Are Due Today
Today is the last day to fill out our Member and Supporter Surveys! We have all experienced a year of change that has radically altered our personal lives and our advocacy. We need your feedback to center the desires of our network and to maintain the resiliency of the youth drug policy reform movement. If you were involved in a
SSDP Network Survey Deadlines Have Been Extended
To allow more time for our members and supporters to make their voices heard in our network surveys, we have moved the deadline to complete the Membership and Supporter Surveys back to this Friday, October 23rd. Your understanding, experience, and opinions about SSDP are important to us and our members. We highly encourage you to share this with your fellow
Organise a Screening: Taking Back What’s Ours!
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD) and DrugReporter to coordinate showings of their newly released docuseries ‘Taking Back What’s Ours: An Oral History of the Movement of People Who Use Drugs’. Each episode is dedicated to different regions and countries, and how the movement developed there. It’s
Statement of Solidarity with the People of Nigeria
Students for Sensible Drug Policy stands in solidarity with the people of Nigeria protesting against the human rights abuses and police brutality committed by the Nigerian police force, particularly the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, also known as SARS. We condemn the actions of the Nigerian government, especially the infringing on the people’s right to protest by using violence and brutality, and
Young Nigerians Fight Against Police Brutality #EndSARS
This report is written by our African Development Consultant, Moronfolu Adeniyi ’14, based on his experiences on the ground in Ogun State. More than a week ago now, police officers in their usual habits harrassed (shot) a young man in Ughelli part of Delta State. It was thought to be police from the common unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) because
We’re Hiring a Development Associate!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring for a new position, and this could be your chance to land your dream job! Working for SSDP is an 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
Global Member Highlight: Arvy Kumar ’18
Written by Jacob Chagnon ’17 Jacob: For this week’s Member Highlight, we’re highlighting Aravind ‘Arvy’ Kumar ‘18, former chapter leader at NYU Abu Dhabi and contributing member to the International Organizing Committee. Arvy, my immediate successor at the NYU Abu Dhabi chapter and a dear friend, now lives and works full time in Abu Dhabi since his graduation. Given the
Introducing SSDP Kenya
This article was written by SSDP Kenya Chapter Leader Marveine Atieno ’19. I am Marveline Atieno, a student at the University of Nairobi studying Political science and international relations. I am an upcoming activist and I decided to start the chapter because the previous team all graduated. I joined SSDP to stand for the rights of students who are currently
Introducing SSDP King’s College London
This article was written by King’s College London Chapter Leader Emily Jones ’19 Hi, I’m Emily and I am a second-year student at King’s College London where I am studying a Pharmacology BSc. Aside from my degree, Music is a big passion for me and I have attended many music events and festivals over the past few years, often being
September 2020 Report Card
As Students for Sensible Drug Policy is dedicated to making sure that young people from across the world are at the center of drug policy reform, over the last month we have rolled out some exciting new program changes. Alongside opening our International Office in Vienna in September, on October 1st, Róisín Downes ‘15 and Orsi Feher ‘16 signed the
SSDP Country Highlight: Lebanon (Part 2)
This is the second part of our Global Country Highlight on Lebanon. If you have not seen the first part, please click here. Civil Society In my view, the NGOs working in Lebanon set a fantastic example for activists everywhere, covering key areas of policy change, network building, medical treatment, and harm reduction. Civil society’s interrelated web of activity demonstrates
Introducing Los Angeles Community College SSDP
Written by Lucca Pastore ‘20, Los Angeles Community College Chapter LeaderHow did you hear about SSDP?I heard about Students for Sensible Drug Policy through social media. Specifically Instagram, and even more specifically from an account called @25i_nbomeme. The admin of this account posts a lot of funny bilingual memes and also talks a lot about harm reduction on his page,
Introducing Two More Interns on the SSDP Global Team
At the start of the Fall semester, SSDP renewed our Policy Internship (now called “U.S. Federal Liaison”) and found our new Digital Communications Intern!Abhi Dewan ‘18 – United States Federal LiaisonAbhi is primarily responsible for assisting the development and implementation of SSDP’s United States federal legislative strategies and co-facilitating our United States Policy Council. Abhi is an advocate, a life-long
Fill Out Our SSDP Membership Survey
Authors: Mariah Gaither ’16, Rob Hofmann ’16, Luis Montoya ’16 As our organization continues to grow and operate through this incredibly turbulent year, we must make sure that our work is centering the desires and advocacy of our members. What would you like SSDP to do more of, or do a better job at? Is there something you want to
SSDP Country Highlight: Lebanon
Earlier this year, I was taken aback by civil society’s impressive commitment to drug policy reform and advocacy in Lebanon. As SSDP’s first Country Highlight, I’m excited to shine a spotlight on this beautiful and complicated country, to explore its drug laws, recent and important developments, and most importantly, share some of the fantastic work of civil society. In the
SSDP Statement on Breonna Taylor
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is enraged and disturbed over the decision made by the grand jury in the murder of Breonna Taylor to indict just one out of three officers involved with charges that were unrelated to her death. However, we are not surprised. The system that killed Breonna Taylor refuses to hold itself accountable time and time again.
SSDP Opens International Office
Students for Sensible Drug Policy has opened its International Office in Vienna, Austria. This historical move is an important step in the restructuring of SSDP’s Global Programs and will help SSDP’s operations become more reflective of the network’s global nature. Our new office is located at Impact Hub Vienna, an inspirational and diverse community of global changemakers. From there, Director
