Tag: students for sensible drug policy
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act Has Been Reintroduced
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) applauds the reintroduction of the MORE Act as a critical step toward dismantling the failed war on cannabis. For far too long, cannabis has remained classified as a Schedule I substance; defined as having a “high potential for abuse with no recognized medical use.” Despite 24 states fully legalizing cannabis and 47 states permitting
Illinois weighs psychedelic-assisted therapy in landmark CURE Act – Chicago Health
Chicago Health reports that the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens (CURE) Act is the first major effort to legalize clinical use of psilocybin in the state of Illinois. The legislation would establish a licensing system and advisory board to allow qualified practitioners to administer psilocybin for mental health treatment. While the bill has steadily gained support among lawmakers, deeply entrenched stigma
Evidence and Science-Based Approaches in Drug Policy – United Nations
Written by Jackson Rund, Lake Superior State University SSDP In July, I joined two fellow SSDP representatives, Zach Johnson from Fordham University and the New York Community Chapter, and Jorge Valderrabano from the New York Community Chapter at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Together, we formed part of SSDP’s
Kat Murti – Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Meta Censorship, and the Fight for Science – PsyNews.com
PsyNews.com, a website dedicated to covering the psychedelic industry, shared Kat Murti, SSDP’s Executive Director’s recent podcast appearance on Psychedelics Today with Joe Moore. Learn more here.
Cannabis Fest hits Pittsburgh aiming to educate and promote – Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Students for Sensible Drug Policy tabled at the Pittsburgh Cannabis Festival on August 10, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette interviewed gina vensel, SSDP’s Director of Communications and events. In their article entitled, “Cannabis Fest hits Pittsburgh aiming to educate and promote,” the Pittsburgh PG highlighted the advocacy work that SSDP is doing to get cannabis legalized. “Gina Vensel, the director
SSDP Hosts “Anchored In Altered States” in Anchorage on August 14
Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) for Anchored In Altered States, a thought-provoking networking event and documentary screening at The Nave in Anchorage on Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM AKDT. The day before SSDP participates in the Arctic Visions Psychedelics Conference, we’re excited to host an evening gathering to bring together community leaders and
Student Activists Petition to End Cannabis, Plant Medicine Censorship on Instagram by Meta – Heady NJ
Heady NJ reports that Students for Sensible Drug Policy leads the way through online efforts to fight the ongoing censorship and banning of cannabis, psychedelics, and harm reduction organizations. “It is vital that evidence-based, life-saving information is not censored. Harm reduction and drug education save lives. Cannabis and psychedelic therapies are supported by rigorous scientific research and show promise for
SSDP’s Gina Giorgio Appointed to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health
North Carolina is home to the 8th largest Veteran population in the US, with around 619,000 Veterans living in the state. 29.5% of NC Veterans have a disability, according to US Census data. This makes the NC task force an important step forward in supporting the state’s Veterans. North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Veterans’ Health (NCIOM) is
North Carolina’s Psychedelic Medicine and Veterans Mental Health Advocacy Day Marks a Major Step Forward
By Gina Giorgio, Director of Strategy and Development at Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and Founder of the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition (NCPPC) On June 10th, North Carolina took a meaningful step in the movement toward mental health innovation. Over 30 advocates, veterans, doctors, clinicians, researchers, and policy leaders gathered at the North Carolina General Assembly for an
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States
Impact of U.S. Drug Policy on the Human Rights of Women Within the United States Submitted to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women under the Communications Procedure by Students for Sensible Drug Policy, August 1, 2025 Introduction The global “War on Drugs” has served as a mechanism for systemic oppression, disproportionately harming marginalized populations while reinforcing entrenched racial,
FDA & DEA Move to Criminalize 7-OH
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classify 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Health & Human Services sent a press release this past Tuesday, July 25, that the FDA is taking steps to restrict 7-OH products. SSDP strongly opposes
SSDP’s Ullman Testifies at the United Nations
Last month, SSDP Science Policy Committee Co-founder Dr. Elijah Ullman traveled to Vienna, Austria to represent SSDP at the 68th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and to deliver an official statement strongly urging international lawmakers to prevent poorly planned drug scheduling regulations from halting vital scientific research. For reference, Dr. Ullman’s testimony has been included in full
SSDP Bicoastal Blitz Part 2
Happy Thursday! Wherever you are in the world, we hope that your week is off to a productive start so far.As many readers may already be well-aware, the entire SSDP team has been incredibly busy so far this year with back-to-back multi-conference weekends to end the month of March, along with a lengthy list of SSDP chapter gatherings, community events,
Binghampton SSDP Features in Pipe Dream
A group of Binghamton University students have been leading an effort to get a Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) chapter chartered on campus. The process has been spearheaded by Ben Glick — a sophomore majoring in psychology who works as an overdose intervention specialist overseeing Narcan distribution for Broome County — alongside Truth Pharm, a local nonprofit harm reduction
Top Five Reasons from 2023 to Support SSDP in 2024!
2023 was a big year for SSDP—we saw big staff changes (we have a new ED!), we made big policy changes, and we just generally did some amazing work to save lives and END the War on Drugs. Throughout it all, one thing remains true: SSDP is still the most widespread, effective, and intersectional youth drug policy organization in the
