Tag: Legalization
The Awful Legacy of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act- and how you can help end it
Eighty-two years ago today, the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act effectively banned the sale and use of cannabis in the United States. The support garnered to pass this act was propelled by racist fearmongering. While the Marihuana Tax Act was overturned in 1969 through a ruling in the Supreme Court case Leary v. United States, marijuana prohibition was rolled up into
We deserve MORE!
Historic legislation centers justice in cannabis reformToday, Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced groundbreaking companion legislation in the United States House of Representatives and Senate to address the state-federal conflict in marijuana laws by removing marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and establishing cannabis as a legal product which may be regulated by the states.
Be inspired by our rock star student members at Ferris State University
The best part of working at Students for Sensible Drug Policy is hearing amazing stories every day about what our members are doing to end the War on Drugs and protect their communities from the harms caused by drug prohibition. If you’re as inspired by their work as I am, please make a gift to support the students who are
Marijuana’s Path to Legality in Mexico
Written by Arturo Lua Castillo, SSDP’s Latin America Policy Intern. Although marijuana legalization in Mexico lacks appeal amongst much of the public and is still a subject of stigma and misinformation, the country has recently taken crucial steps towards legalization. A Different Process In the United States, marijuana policy reform has primarily taken shape through state-wide ballot initiatives which have resulted
Delaying Recreational Cannabis Sales in Massachusetts is Irresponsible
Written by University of Massachusetts Boston SSDP chapter leader Joseph Gilmore The decision by Massachusetts legislators to delay the opening of recreational marijuana dispensaries was both fiscally irresponsible and politically underhanded. The consequences of S. 2524, which pushed the start date for recreational cannabis sales back by 6 months, will negatively impact our communities both socially and economically along with directly
Political Power, Points, and Pizza – Participate in SSDP’s Voter Registration Drive
We have more power than we know. We certainly have more power than we use. This year, there are more Americans under 35 who are eligible to vote than Boomer voters. And as fond as we may be of Boomers in our own lives, one thing is for sure: they don’t represent our interests when it comes to drug policy. This
Should You Support California’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act?
Written by Leland Radovanovic, chapter leader of CUNY Baruch College SSDP. This post originally appeared on The Odyssey Online. The tide is coming in on cannabis legalization. Public consensus has never been higher. It’s time to legalize. One of the most important states may be next. California. They’ve had, for several decades now, a medical cannabis program. For better or
Why SSDP is endorsing AUMA
Written by Guest Blogger Morgan Tougas, University of California Berkeley This November, voters in California will consider a number of ballot initiatives. One of these initiatives, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), seeks to regulate and legalize cannabis for adults over the age of 21. Although there were a variety of other initiatives hoping to gain support to regulate cannabis, AUMA is the
Oh, Ohio
Following an intense and deeply thoughtful debate this summer, Students for Sensible Drug Policy opted to remain neutral on Ohio’s Issue 3, the wildly controversial ballot initiative to legalize cannabis for adult and medical use in Ohio in 2015. The cannabis community at large is torn on the issue; the SSDP Board of Directors (largely students elected by their peers), Trustees,
Prop 47: A Step In The Right Direction
Written by Kevin Akpan, SSDP Stories Intern, and Greg Gaffney-Bills, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director at George Washington University In 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs. Possession of everything from marijuana and psychedelics to heroin and cocaine now results in mandatory drug education, counseling, and rehabilitation, instead of incarceration. Oddly enough, the sky didn’t fall and the world kept spinning. However, the prohibitionists were right about one
