SSDP Newsletter – July 2021

Note from Executive Director, Jason Ortiz ’08

Hello SSDP! As the new Executive Director of SSDP, I’m excited to share all the amazing work we’ve been doing over the last few months to pass cannabis laws, create opportunities in the psychedelic space, and continue to lift the voices of those most impacted by the war on drugs. If after reading the inspiring work of our members you would like to contribute by making a gift, you can do so here.

My time at SSDP kicked off with a bang with our SSDP international conference #Sensible2021! The most internationally representative conference to date brought hundreds of students together from across the globe to participate in 3 days of story sharing, victory celebration, deep introspection, and visioning for the future. The team put together an incredible event that generated unstoppable momentum for growing our efforts in 2021 and beyond. No pandemic can stop SSDPers from adapting and persevering!  

One example of SSDP’s local work was our partnership with NO OD NY, a partnership with VOCAL-NY, DPA, and local activist Ryan Carson to pressure governor Cumo to permit the opening of overdose prevention centers in New York State. SSDP Board member and Equity Strategist Oriana Mayorga (pictured left with Ryan Carson) participated in a press conference with NYC Public Advocate Jumane Williams in support of this effort. Huge thanks to Oriana and the Columbia chapters for their leadership in New York!

Our groundbreaking Psychedelic Pipeline has continued to generate excitement and SSDP has been featured on numerous national stages including World Psychedelic Day, the PSYCHED! Conference, and the PsyTech summit. 

SSDP has also been very busy growing our international presence and expanding our support for our international chapters. This year we made this dream a reality by becoming an official NGO through the United Nations and EU, and opening SSDP’s international office in Vienna, Austria. Our international Executive Director Róisín Downes coordinated and empowered youth-led initiatives at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, herself speaking during the official program of the CND! 

Our Africa network hosted a leadership summit in Nigeria that solidified relationships with policy-makers and enshrined our organization as a respected drug policy organization in Africa. Thank you to Moronfulu and Roisin for your leadership!

We launched our Defund the Aerial Crop Eradication of Psychoactive Plants in Colombia initiative. SSDP is working with Colombian activists and researchers to amplify the demand to cease the aerial spraying of glyphosate, a toxic pesticide, as a means of drug control in Colombia, which is funded through US appropriations. 

SSDP was part of the team that submitted amicus briefs in cooperation with the ACLU National office to protect student free speech rights, and we were victorious! SSDP continues to be a force in student free speech rights, and we were honored to work with the ACLU on this important case!

SSDP also participated in meetings with the Marijuana Justice Coalition as the rollout of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, the first full cannabis legalization bill to be introduced by Senate Democratic leadership, and played a strong role in the legalization of cannabis in Connecticut.  

From local organizing around overdose prevention, all the way to the UN commission on narcotics and drugs, SSDP has been on the ground empowering youth and impacted communities to take action toward a more sensible world. Below you’ll see a number of other victories we’ve had growing our movement. Help us grow our capacity for change even more by becoming a sustaining member of our Sensible Society.

Thank you all for your continuous support and we look forward to our next edition of the SSDP newsletter when we will be able to share all the creative ways students and youth will be gearing up to a fall semester jam-packed with SSDP action. 

And finally, we’re hiring! SSDP is seeking a Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator, a New York State Coordinator, and a Communications Manager. Applications will be accepted immediately and reviewed until the position is filled. Apply today!

Action alerts

• United States: Encourage your House representative to support drug decriminalization through the Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021!
• United States: Tell your House rep to support marijuana legalization with restorative justice measures by passing the MORE Act!

Stats

• 3 new job opportunities with SSDP! Apply today.
• 19 new chapter or Ambassador inquiries submitted
• 59 chapter members coached by outreach staff
• 46 ongoing chapter campaigns
• 17 members joining the inaugural Just Say Know Peer Education Summer Camp

Network highlights

• Yusuf Adebisi from SSDP Nigeria won the Princess Diana Award 2021
• SSDP Ireland members met with Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• SSDP New Zealand provided suggestions to the New Zealand Drug Checking Bill, looking to expand the methods of testing for accessibility
• SSDP University College London got funded to hold Just Say Know workshops for refugees and asylum seekers
• SSDP Newcastle had harm reduction enshrined in their university drug policy & the university hired a full time staff member dedicated to harm reduction
• SSDP Nigeria participated in and presented at a CSO-Parliamentary Stakeholders Roundtable on Effective Drug Control in Nigeria
• SSDP Zimbabwe held a workshop for young women about Women Who Use and Inject Drugs for Support. Don’t Punish
• SSDP University of Calabar held a stakeholder meeting “Who Will End the Drug War?” where they developed a White Paper on the roles of young people, journalists, civil society organisations, health practitioners and law makers in ending the drug war
• SSDP Liberia held an event showing testimonials from female incarcerated drug users for Support. Don’t Punish
• SSDP Sierra Leone held a Support. Don’t Punish demonstration with the Institute for Drug Control and Human Security
• SSDP Bristol spoke at a debate at the Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform

SSDP in the news

• State Senate Debates Cannabis Legalization – NBC Connecticut
• Marijuana legalization proposal races against Statehouse clock – The Brown Daily Herald
• Cannabis in CT: Bill Aims to Address Equity for License Applicants – NBC Connecticut
• Connecticut Senate Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, Days Before Session Ends – Marijuana Moment
• Legalized July 1, marijuana use will still be forbidden on college campuses – Roanoke Times
• Connecticut legalizes marijuana, becoming 19th state to regulate adult use – Leafly
• Connecticut Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Into Law – Marijuana Moment
• Connecticut’s Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization Protects Youth, Students – Filter
• Excelsior College Hosting New Cannabis Webinar Series – The Marijuana Times
• Inside the Fight for Social Equity in Connecticut – Cannabis Dispensary
• As Virginia prepares to legalize marijuana, college students hope schools will ease rules – The Washington Post
• Washington, DC Council Votes to Ban Flavored Vaping Products – Filter

From the blog

• We’re Hiring!
• Introducing our Global Operations and US Policy Intern
• Take Action for International Overdose Awareness Day
• SSDP Sign-on letter: Oppose aerial crop eradication
• It’s Time to Retire the War on Drugs
• Connecticut House and Senate Pass Cannabis Legalization with Strong Protections for Students
• 78 SSDP Chapters call on congress to end federal marijuana prohibition

Upcoming events and days of action

These events include those which are hosted by SSDP, SSDP International, 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 team member know. Check the “Member Benefits” section for event discount codes! See our Events Calendar for more events and days of action.

• August 9th | Worldwide | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 
• August 12th | Worldwide | International Youth Day 
• August 28th | Washington, DC, USA | National Cannabis Festival
• August 24-25th | Online | Illinois Harm Reduction Summit
• August 31st  | Worldwide | International Overdose Awareness Day 

Recommended reading and resources

• Rob Hofmann ‘16: Rhode Island Makes History By Legalizing Safe Consumption Spaces
• Róisín Downes ‘15 Drug Decriminalisation [e]Course – IDPC X Health[e] Foundation
• Carmen Jackman Winter ‘19: Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD
• Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, PsyD ‘09: Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy
• Luis Montoya ‘16: Re:Imagining Change: How to use story-based strategy to win campaigns, build movements, and change the world

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 
• Gift your credit card rewards to SSDP with Charity Charge 
• Work with NisonCo to propel your organization through public relations in the recreational cannabis, medical marijuana, and hemp industries.
• Arcview Ignites – Get cannabis industry expertise from the leading cannabis investor network and SSDP gets a percentage of revenue share
• Get books from our Recommended Reading list and give back at the same time
• 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”

Jobs and opportunities

• Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator – SSDP
• New York State Coordinator – SSDP
• Communications Manager – SSDP
• SEO Account Coordinator – NisonCo
• PR Account Coordinator – NisonCo
• 15 positions open – 4Front Ventures
• 23 positions open – Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
• Researcher – Aidsfront & AFEW International – EECA Region – Deadline: July 17th
• Project Coordinator – Transform – United Kingdom – Deadline: July 22nd
• Digital Communications Manager – Transform – United Kingdom/Remote – Deadline: July 30th
• Clinical Director – Sage Institute – Oakland, California, USA 
• MDMA Therapy Training Program application and Health Equity Scholarship – MAPS PBC – Deadline: July 16
• Adherence Rater – MAPS PBC – Remote
• Communications and English Content Coordinator – ICEERS – Barcelona or other European time zones 
• Psychedelic Peer Support Volunteer; Shift Supervisor – Fireside Project – Remote
• Director of Operations – Center for Consciousness Medicine – San Francisco, California