Blog
U.S. Members – Take Our Limited Drug Decriminalization Policy Position Survey
SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council is accepting feedback from our membership regarding our U.S. policy position on limited drug decriminalization measures, such as psilocybin decriminalization or ‘Decriminalize Nature’ campaigns. These measures range from decriminalizing certain plant-based psychedelics to making certain plant-based psychedelics lowest law enforcement priorities. Currently, “SSDP does not prioritize a strategy to decriminalize, legalize, or regulate currently illegal drugs
SSDP African Orientation Training: Session Results and Feedback
In early December, the brand new SSDP Africa Orientation Training was launched, with the 5 well-prepared, eager, and motivated facilitators ready to train the first batch of participants and begin the task of certifying our members. Read about who they are and the creation of this training here. The first round of this training saw 12 participants in attendance of
Psychedelic Exceptionalism vs. Decrim All
Written by Josh McMillin ‘20, Kat Ebert ‘18Edited by Abhi Dewan ‘18, Luis Montoya ‘16 After the 2020 election season, many of us were delighted to see that several US states passed historical initiatives for the progress of drug reform. Not long after, the UN rescheduled marijuana and the MORE act passed the house. The War on Drugs is steadily
Introducing University of Michigan SSDP!
Written by Connor Flanigan ’20, UMich SSDP Chapter Leader How did you hear about SSDP? Was looking for ways to get involved with positive psychedelic legislation, and google did the rest. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I wanted to help organize my local community in the ongoing efforts around drug policy.
Introducing SSDP Newcastle
Written by chapter leader Sim Sembi ‘20 and the SSDP Newcastle chapter members. Tell me a bit about yourself, what you study, your interests and why you decided to start a chapter. We are both intercalating medical students at Newcastle University. We wanted to restart SSDP Newcastle to represent the student voice in the reformation of the drug policy and
Introducing SSDP Netherlands
Tell me a bit about yourself, what you study, your interests, and why you decided to start a chapter. My name is Dennis Lemke. I am a 20-year-old student starting my first year of a Bachelor’s in Psychology (international track) at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. I originally come from Germany, but moved to the Netherlands 5 months
Introducing Our New Federal Policy Liaison!
We are excited to announce that Sarah Noon ‘18, who joined the leadership team of our U.S. Policy Council in December, is our new U.S. Federal Policy Liaison! Sarah will be primarily responsible for assisting the development and implementation of SSDP’s United States federal legislative strategies and co-facilitating our United States Policy Council.Sarah recently graduated from Oakland Community College, where
Introducing California State University Fullerton
Written by Michael Baum ‘20, Chapter Leader of California State University Fullerton How did you hear about SSDP? I heard about SSDP when looking through the MAPS website. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I wanted to get involved because I know a lot of people are harmed by the drug policies
Today is your last chance to double your gift
Today is the last chance for gifts made to Students for Sensible Drug Policy to be doubled this year. 2020 is almost over, and I’m sure you’re as excited as I am to head into 2021. This year was filled with enormous challenges and tragedy. We’ve witnessed death and devastation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global civil unrest and upheaval,
Your SSDP 2020 Wrapped: Our Top Ten of 2020
In spite of the many challenges of 2020, Students for Sensible Drug Policy made some incredible accomplishments this year. Through the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, upending of campus life, and rapid shifts in change-making strategies, we’ve seen our network members step up and reinvent the ways we organize. SSDP’s vision of a post-prohibition future where safety, justice, and
Hear what our members say about the Psychedelic Career Pipeline
This year, Students for Sensible Drug Policy implemented our Psychedelic Pipeline Career Development Program as the first formal pathway for people interested in working in the psychedelic field to connect to professionals in the field with similar values, gain access to unique learning and training opportunities, and ultimately become leaders in the field of psychedelics. The SSDP Psychedelic Pipeline provides
Donate to SSDP and be entered to win an EVRI Starter Pack
This December, all gifts made to SSDP will be generously matched up to $55,000 by some of our staunchest supporters who know that ending the War on Drugs takes a grassroots network of young people fighting for sensible drug policy on their campuses, in their communities, and at national and international level. We have some more exciting news: in addition
Announcing SSDP International’s First General Assembly
We are thrilled to announce that SSDP International’s inaugural General Assembly will take place virtually on the 29th of January 2021. During the General Assembly, SSDP International will vote in it’s first cohort of board members, vote on bylaw changes, and vote on an amended international mission. Voting will open on the 26th of January and conclude during the General
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
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
Now Available: Strategy Summit Session Recordings
Did you LOVE SSDP’s first-ever virtual Strategy Summit? Have you missed a few sessions? You can now watch all of the public sessions on SSDP’s 2020 Strategy Summit website. Over the last month, SSDPers held discussions on various important topics and issues to provide insight towards the development of a multi-year strategy that will guide the organization to continued success
New Member Added to SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council Leadership Team
On December 1st, 2020, SSDP’s U.S. Policy Council Tactical Team voted to add Sarah Noon ‘18 as a member of our leadership team. Sarah will be the point person for our Campus Change, Cannabis, and Scientific Research Issue Groups. Sarah Noon recently graduated from Oakland Community College, where she was the president and founder of OCC’s Students for Sensible Drug
November 2020 Report Card
What a year it has been for cannabis policy reform! Between the seven winning U.S. state ballot initiatives for adult use and medical cannabis legalization, the United Nations vote to remove cannabis from Schedule IV- recognizing its medicinal benefits, and the passage of the MORE Act in the United States House of Representatives, we have seen a historic blow to
SSDP Is Hiring A U.S. Federal Policy Liaison!
Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring a U.S. Federal Policy Liaison! 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 from the harms of drug prohibition. SSDP is overseen by 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
Introducing University College Dublin
This is an interview with Aisling Hudson ’20 & the new SSDP University College Dublin team. Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter? I am Aisling Hudson ’20, a final year undergraduate, mature student, studying social policy and sociology. I’m very young at heart. My main interest is in cannabis reform, although I
Action Alert: Start Making Calls for Georgia Voter Registration and GOTV!
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is encouraging all of our U.S. members, alumni, and supporters to start making calls and get out the vote for Georgia’s special election on January 5th. Drug policy reform and the progress we have made this year is on the line this run-off election. The MORE Act, which just passed the House of Representatives on
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
Historic Victory for Cannabis at the United Nations
Written by Orsi Fehér ’16 and Beatrix Vas ’19 Support our UN Advocacy work. Make a gift to SSDP’s International Activities Fund today. Drug policy history was made yesterday as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) removed cannabis from Schedule IV in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 After two years of active procrastination, the CND finally made
