Last week, we told you about our amazing keynote speakers, Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Steven Hawkins, JD, and Antwan Jefferson, Ph.D., and today we’re excited to announce the plenary sessions at our biggest event of the year, SSDP2019: The Global Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference:

Beyond Drug Decriminalization: Local badasses transforming justice

Highlighting local prison abolition and justice reform activists, we’ll look at how our movement to end the War on Drugs is just one piece of transforming our biased, inhumane, and outdated criminal justice system. Chicago-area organizers will discuss their efforts to implement alternatives to policing, abolish jails and prisons, and move toward a system of justice that works for all of us.

Lived Experiences: Stories from the other side of the War on Drugs

Creating sensible drug policy is most effective when we listen to the communities that are directly impacted by policy. This plenary brings together students and alumni of SSDP who have been personally affected by the War on Drugs to talk about their experiences, and how the movement can advocate with and for them in a way that puts people with lived experiences first.

These are in addition to our 28 student-driven breakout sessions, opening and closing ceremonies, student Congress, Sensible Society gathering, people of color only dinner, peer educator meetup, and of course, our annual awards ceremony, concert and dance party!

The last day to take advantage of our discounted early bird registration rates is this Friday, February 1st, so be sure to claim your spot at SSDP2019 this week!

Already registered? Awesome! Your next steps will be to arrange your lodging and travel.

Hotel booking is available now at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel and Conference Center through this link. You will be redirected and sometimes the group code does not auto-populate. It’s very important that you make sure that “PGF” appears in the “Group Code” box when selecting your room. If it does not automatically appear, you will need to enter it yourself.

The special room rate will be available until March 6 or until the group block is sold out, whichever comes first. Please book your room only through this link, with our group code “PGF”, and not via phone or third-party websites.

About seven weeks in advance is the best time to book your flight as that’s when you have the best chance of getting a cheap fare. Since the first week in February is seven weeks out from SSDP2019, that means now’s the time to book your flight!

We strongly recommend that you book your flight to/from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). It is a 5-minute drive from the conference venue, and the hotel provides a free shuttle. By comparison, Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is 45 minutes by car or 90 minutes on public transit away from the conference venue, and you will be responsible for arranging for and paying for your ground transportation.

Check out our Get There page for tons of resources on how to finance your trip, including scholarship opportunities.

Can’t wait to see you in Chicago!