Blog (old)

23
Nov

Team Highlight: Carmen Winter ‘19

For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! First up, we have Carmen Winter, Development Associate! Carmen Winter ’19, (she/they) Development Associate Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement Maryland Institute College of Art Short Bio Carmen Winter is a native Marylander and Washington, D.C. area based designer, researcher, and

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19
Nov

Introducing the University of Denver SSDP Ambassador

We are excited to announce that we have a new Ambassador based out of the University of Denver, Georgia Horne ‘21! We met with Georgia to find out more about what brought them to the network and what they’re excited about.  1. Tell us a bit about yourself (anything that you’d like to share really) I am currently pursuing my

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19
Nov

Making Noise in the South

SSDP Engages with Florida’s Emerging Cannabis Industry Recently, I took an autumn drive from Atlanta to Tallahassee, Florida, in order to help stakeholders lobby for sensible Cannabis reform at Florida’s State General Assembly. While cruising down an old state highway in Southern Georgia, lined with colorful leaves and farms whose abundant crops were ready for the harvest, I began to ponder

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18
Nov

Introducing Johns Hopkins University SSDP

Written by Emma Landry ‘21 and Avery Meyer ‘21, Johns Hopkins University SSDP Co-Chapter Leaders 1. How did you hear about SSDP?  Avery: I have heard about SSDP over the years vaguely, but became really interested when I talked to someone who was involved in SSDP and spoke really highly of the organization and connections it allowed her to make. 

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17
Nov

November Newsletter 2021

Note from the team  It has been an exciting last few months at SSDP! We launched multiple campaigns, hired 2 stellar interns, and had a strong presence at MJBizCon, the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference, and the American Bar Association’s Business of Cannabis Conference. Help us keep up the momentum by becoming a member of our Sensible Society, and see

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16
Nov

40 under 40 Outstanding BIPOC leaders in Drug Policy in the United States

40 under 40 Outstanding BIPOC leaders in Drug Policy  By Oriana Mayorga One effective way to practice allyship and anti-racism in the drug policy movement is to intentionally uplift the voices and talents of people of color, and directly support them by booking them on your conference panels, events and through direct monetary contributions to their work. SSDP’s equity team

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10
Nov

WAKE FOREST SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY SUCCESSFULLY BANS THE BOX ON THEIR SCHOOL APPLICATION

Interview with Lindsey Galbo, Wake Forest SOM SSDP Chapter President Lindsey Galbo ‘19 is the Founder and President of the Wake Forest School of Medicine Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter. Lindsey and the rest of the Wake Forest SOM chapter have focused primarily on the intersection of harm reduction, scientific research, education, and policy change. They’ve worked with local

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2
Nov

Action Alert: Tell Your Senators to Eliminate Appalling Sentencing Disparities Between Crack and Powder Cocaine

It is time to end the disparity in prison sentences between crack and powder cocaine-related offenses. Urge your Senators to vote YES on the EQUAL Act!In 1986, the Anti Drug Abuse Act created a 100:1 disparity between the federal mandatory minimum sentence for crack and powder cocaine. Almost a quarter century later, President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing

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18
Oct

We’re Hiring Interns for Just Say Know & Our Psychedelic Pipeline!

Passionate about harm reduction-based peer education? Helping drug policy reformers find the psychedelic career of their dreams? We are currently hiring two more interns! Interning with SSDP provides you with an excellent opportunity to work with the largest global youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs and to support a large network of young people across the globe. 

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13
Oct

SSDP Accepting Applications for 3rd Cohort of Psychedelic Pipeline Career Development Mentorship Program

Students for Sensible Drug Policy has continued to develop the Psychedelic Pipeline, a network to connect SSDP members and alumni interested in working with psychedelic medicines to quality training, scholarship funds, and career development opportunities, with a deliberate focus on providing access to people of color. We have an exciting new partnership with our friends at Fireside Project, and continue
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12
Oct

October Newsletter 2021

Note from the team  As we enter the fall season, Students for Sensible Drug Policy has seen the return to campus for many of our chapters for the first time in well over a year. As everyone re-adjusts to a world that is not quite post-COVID but growing nearer, young leaders around the world are eager to re-engage with their

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11
Oct

SSDP and Fireside Project announce collaboration

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is excited to partner with Fireside Project in the interest of peer support and psychedelic harm reduction!    The mission of Fireside Project is, “to help people minimize the risks and fulfill the potential of their psychedelic experiences in ways such as providing compassionate, accessible, and culturally responsive peer support, educating the public, and furthering
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6
Oct

Public Announcement of the Resolution to Advance Sensible Drug Policy!

  Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) for the public announcement of the Resolution to Advance Sensible Drug Policy! We have created a full resolution, an organizing guide, and a one pager that breaks the ordinance down into 4 main sections: adopting a public health approach to controlled substances, reforming criminal codes, audit and tracking of expenses and fees

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1
Oct

SSDP International Opens Registration for the Annual UN Training Webinar Series

Following the launch of the Second Edition of Drug Policy Reform at the United Nations: A Youth Advocacy Handbook, SSDP International is proud to open registration for the Annual UN Training Webinar Series.Both international and US network members are welcome to sign up using the SSDP UN Mailing List.

1
Oct

Here’s to 23 years of Students for Sensible Drug Policy

SSDP is celebrating our 23rd birthday this month, will you celebrate with us today?  23 years ago, the drug policy movement was in a much different place. In the fall of 1996, members of the Student Drug Reform Movement (SDRM) began to chat over the internet using a Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet) discussion page. In 1997, the Rochester Cannabis

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29
Sep

We’re hiring two U.S. advocacy interns!

Have you ever wanted to work for Students for Sensible Drug Policy? We’re hiring two US advocacy interns! 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 the harms of drug prohibition. SSDP is overseen by our Board of

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20
Sep

SSDP International Launches the Second Edition of Drug Policy Reform at the United Nations: A Youth Advocacy Handbook

To fulfil a more extensive UN Strategy for 2021-2022, SSDP International is proud to release the Second Edition of the Youth Advocacy Handbook.

13
Sep

SSDP Welcomes Rory O’Brien, Jacob Plowden, and Jeremy Sharp to the Team

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is thrilled to welcome three new full-time staff members to our team. Rory O’Brien ’19 joins us as our first Communications Manager, Jacob Plowden ’15 joins as our New York State Coordinator, and Jeremy Sharp ’12 joins us as our Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator. Rory O’Brien ‘19 (she/her/ella) is the Communications Manager for Students for

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7
Sep

The European Drug Policy Working Group is Recruiting New Members!

Shaping its strategy around the EU Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 2021-2025, the Drug Policy Working Group is looking to expand youth participation in decision making and other democratic processes at a regional level. If you have ever wished to make tangible change in the drug policy landscape of your country and/or at the European level, joining this regional Working Group is the ideal starting point in your advocacy journey.

1
Sep

SSDP submits comments on Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act

September 1, 2021 The Honorable Cory Booker The Honorable Ron Wyden The Honorable Chuck Schumer Attn: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act Sponsoring Offices United States Senate  Washington, D.C. 20515 Submitted via email to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov. RE: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act — Students for Sensible Drug Policy: U.S. Policy Council Comments Dear Senators Booker, Wyden, and Schumer: On behalf of Students

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1
Sep

Introducing Collingswood High School

Written by Audrey Bosniak ’21, Collingswood High School SSDP Chapter Leader   How did you hear about SSDP?  Actually, I think my mom sent me the SSDP instagram page. She’s a therapist studying psychedelics and a big inspiration for me.  Why did you want to get involved/what made you decide to start a chapter?  It feels like I hear misconceptions

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31
Aug

International Overdose Awareness Day 2021

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. The day began in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia and has grown to be the largest annual global campaigns to end overdose. With one of the slogans being, “Time to Remember. Time to Act.” The World Drug Report (2021) stated that an estimated 275 million people used drugs in 2020 and that drug related deaths

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28
Aug

Announcing New SSDP Promotions!

We are excited to announce two promotions for members of our team!Rob Hofmann ‘16 is now our Policy and Advocacy Director! In this role, Rob will be advancing drug policy reform by developing, implementing, and activating members around SSDP’s policy priorities. Other responsibilities include: Advising the SSDP team and members on policy mattersConducting research on current and upcoming legislation as

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23
Aug

Get Your New Care Package for the New School Year!

As schools start bringing students back on campus, in-person recruiting for chapters is once again becoming a reality. Tabling, flyering, and other in-person recruitment strategies are key to developing a strong and long lasting chapter, so make sure you are incorporating a strong recruitment strategy with your chapter members! To help bring in the new school year and the first

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23
Aug

Interview with Annajane Yolken

Interviewer: Liza Begum, Global Operations and U.S. Policy Intern Annajane Yolken is a public health advocate, working to translate data and research into evidence-based drug policy. She is a co-founder and co-chair of the Substance Use Policy, Education, and Recovery (SUPER) PAC. She is also Director of Programs at Project Weber/RENEW, a peer-based harm reduction service organization in Rhode Island. 

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