SSDP2016 Conference Program

Start making sense™ #SSDP2016: STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY CONFERENCE

SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Aunt Zelda's

Olga Jabbour

SSDP Board of Directors

Camping World

Paul Kuhn

SSDP Board of Trustees

Green Dot Labs

Solstice Grown

The Werc Shop

Kevin Herbert

SSDP Staff

SCHEDULE At-A-Glance Welcome to SSDP2016, the Students for Sensible Drug Policy International Conference!

In 1999, a few dozen students who had been chatting online met in Washington, DC to bring their conversation about drug policy reform to the world. They were the first cohort of Students for Sensible Drug Policy -- members of the DARE generation who understood the broad failures of the drug war and sought each other out to raise their voices against a broken system and start making sense. Since then, countless SSDP conferences have catalyzed thousands of young people who return to campus ready to change the world.

With content envisioned and developed almost exclusively by student members, #SSDP2016 will deliver six plenaries and thirty sessions from 100 students, authors, experts, and leaders in the drug policy reform movement. From this foundation, we will educate, inspire, and empower each other. We will celebrate our contributions to drug policy reform and create the bonds that will keep us pushing forward until the drug war has been replaced by policies rooted in evidence, compassion, justice, and human rights.

This year’s program provides classic skills training in community organizing, policy change, and education. It also takes a direct look at the most pressing issues facing the drug policy reform movement: the challenges of emerging cannabis industries, drug education in the modern era, oppression and privilege in the drug war and reform movement, and the global conversation driven by the UNGASS. Thank you for joining us to create and participate in this transformative experience.

Sensibly, Betty, Stacia and the SSDP Team

FRIDAY: 04.15.2016

SUNDAY: 04.17.2016

5:00pm – 8:00pm Registration

9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibitor Hall

6:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome reception and regional networking with light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

9:00am – 9:45am Breakfast + Activist Storytelling

8:00pm – 10:00pm Congress I (students only) 8:00pm – 10:00pm Alumni dinner (separately ticketed)

SATURDAY: 04.16.2016 9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibitor Hall

9:00am – 9:45am Find the Party In Your Heart: Breakfast with Eric Sterling 9:45am – 10:15am Keynote: Why Addiction is a Learning Disorder and Why It Matters 10:30am – 11:45am Breakout sessions (4) •

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Clubs, Regulated Industry, and the StateRun Store: An exploration of modern cannabis regulatory models Road to UNGASS: What you need to know about the special session and why it matters REVIVE! Opioid Overdose Prevention Training for Virginia Immigration Reform Isn't the Only Latino Issue

12:00pm – 1:15pm Fierce Allies: Collaborating across the divide for drug policy reform 1:15pm – 3:15pm Headshots

9:45am – 10:15am Keynote: Almost Another Dead Black Man: My transformation from brutalized student to impassioned advocate 10:30am – 11:45am Breakout sessions (4) •

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• •

12:00pm – 1:15pm Breakout sessions (4) • • • •

3:00pm – 4:15pm Breakout sessions (3) • •

3:00pm – 4:15pm Breakout sessions (4)

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• • •

The War on Drugs Goes Digital: A discussion with Lyn Ulbricht, mother of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht Ballot Initiative and Campaign Basics: How to utilize your skills to get involved Environmental Consequences of the Drug War La Guerra Contra las Drogas en América Latina

4:30pm – 5:45pm Breakout sessions (4) • Cannabis and Cancer Care • The Anatomy of Writing & Passing Marijuana Laws • Dilemmas of Drug Education: Moral purity and transgressive knowledge in the classroom • Funding Your Dreams

Pursuing Medical Amnesty & Naloxone Access on Campus and Beyond The Power of SSDP Peer Education: An introduction From Meeting to Movement When Diplomacy Fails: How to fight back against a difficult administration

1:30pm – 2:45pm Lunch + Drug Policy Reform Movement Leaders Plenary

1:30pm – 2:45pm Lunch + Congress II •

SOLD OUT: How advocacy organizations stay accountable as an industry takes shape Eliminating the Need for Safe Spaces: Combating oppression in our own activist communities Marijuana and the Media in the Age of Legalization The Mental Illness of Drug Policy

Ethical Drug Consumption Psychedelics and Entheogens: Cognitive tools for healing and learning Sentencing in the Criminal Justice System: Who is incarcerated for how long?

4:30pm – 5:45pm Breakout sessions (4) • • • •

The War on Drugs: Women on the frontlines Why Direct Service Matters #Adulting: How to get and keep the job you want Getting the Word Out: Tips for taking over campus media

6:00pm – 6:30pm Start Making Sense: Students envision a post-prohibition world + Closing Ceremonies

6:00pm – 6:30pm Start Making Sense: Students envision a post-prohibition world 7:00pm – 8:00pm Diversity Awareness Reflection and Education (DARE) Meet Up and Dinner 8:30pm – 9:00pm Awards ceremony doors open + cash bar 9:00pm – 10:00pm Awards ceremony 10:00pm – 2:00am Live music featuring The Wets, dance party, photo booth, cash bar

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DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA

FRIDAY: 04.15.2016 u

5:00P - 8:00P

Registration Promenade 2nd Floor Lobby

SATURDAY: 04.16.2016 u

9:00A - 9:45A

Find the Party In Your Heart: Breakfast with Eric Sterling Eric Sterling

Road to UNGASS: What you need to know about the special session and why it matters Scott Bernstein, Laura Krasovitzky, Murtaza Majeed, Dave Borden, Sara Velimirovic

Rosslyn Ballroom

Dogwood

Welcome Reception

Join legendary drug policy reformer Eric Sterling in the ballroom for breakfast, where

A broad review of the upcoming United

Rosslyn Ballroom

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6:00P - 8:00P

Meet and greet reception for all conference attendees.

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8:00P - 10:00P

SSDP Student Congress - Part I Rosslyn Ballroom During SSDP Congress: Part I, attendees will be introduced to the student candidates

he will answer questions and discuss topics of particular interest to attendees -- and Eric -- in an informal, broad-ranging conversation.

Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem. Learn about the major events that have led up to this major moment in international drug policy reform and hear from several experts and global

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9:45A - 10:15A

Keynote: Why addiction is a learning disorder and why it matters Maia Szalavitz

youth regarding what they feel the most realistic outcomes are. Panelists will also dive into what happens post-UNGASS and what's next for international drug policy reform.

REVIVE! Opioid Overdose Prevention Training for Virginia

running to serve on SSDP’s Board of

Rosslyn Ballroom

Directors. The candidates running for

This keynote will explore why understanding

Student Director positions on the Board will

addiction as a learning disorder can advance

deliver brief speeches, followed by a question

drug policy reform and end stale arguments

and answer session in which students,

about whether compulsive drug use is a

Do you know how to respond to an opioid

SSDP staff, and current board members

crime or a disease. By seeing addiction

overdose emergency? If you or someone you

will ask the candidates questions regarding

from a new perspective, we can increase

love uses any kind of opioid drug—heroin,

their qualifications to serve on the Board.

compassion and reduce drug and drug policy

prescription opiate painkillers, etc.—come

It is strongly encouraged that all students

related harm.

learn how to administer naloxone to save

chapters will be voting on their top choices for Board members the following day.

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8:00P - 10:00P

Alumni Dinner

Club

a life in case of an overdose. Naloxone

attend this Congress session and get to know the candidates, as students in active SSDP

Rose Bono, Stephen Doheney

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10:30A - 11:45A

Clubs, Regulated Industry, and the State-Run Store: An exploration of modern cannabis regulatory models Marco Perduca, Dan Riffle, Zara Snapp, Sarah Trumble

(tradename Narcan) is a drug that reverses overdoses from opioids. Through the REVIVE! program, you can get trained to administer this life-saving drug in an overdose emergency and be guaranteed civil immunity. The legal information is intended for a Virginia audience, and Virginia residents

Shenandoah Suite

Shenandoah Suite

SSDP Alumni conference attendees are

As cannabis prohibition is replaced in

welcome. We will provide naloxone kits that

invited to join us in celebrating SSDP's 18

jurisdictions around the world, communities

include supplies like gloves, breathing masks,

years of outstanding alumni. This year's

and legislators are no longer asking if, but

etc., but do not include naloxone itself.

dinner requires advance ticket purchase.

rather how, cannabis should be socially

Information on how to obtain naloxone will

You won't want to miss this warm,

and legally positioned. From home grow

be provided.

intergenerational gathering of friends!

and cannabis clubs to the various American

Immigration Reform Isn't the Only Latino Issue

industrialist models, cannabis regulation is taking shape in a multitude of formats around the world. Expert panelists will discuss those models, critically analyze their costs and benefits, and provide a glimpse of how other drugs might be similarly regulated.

will be given priority for supplies, but all are

Hector Joel Anaya Segura, Marco Castillo, Stephanie Izquieta, Jeronimo Saldana Georgetown National news headlines as of late have focused on immigration reform as the main Latino issue that will drive Hispanics in numbers to the polls this election cycle, but immigration reform should not be the only thing on Latino voters or politicians’

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minds. Drug policy reform is very much

Congress session in order to vote (there

a Latino issue and something that more

will be an online voting system, but only

Environmental Consequences of the Drug War

Hispanic organizations should pay mind to.

for active chapters who cannot attend the

Kendra McSweeney, Lauren Mendelsohn,

The Latino population, already the nation’s

conference). Active chapters will also have

Sanho Tree

largest minority group, is set to transmogrify

the opportunity to propose nonbinding

Club

the demographic profile of the United Sates

resolutions to influence the direction of the

according to the Pew Research Center. In the

organization, if adopted by the student body.

same way that marijuana arrest rates have

Non-student attendees are invited to quietly

managed to sweep thousands of people

observe Congress or pick up a box lunch and

into the criminal justice system, particularly

find a place to eat nearby.

blacks in disproportionate numbers, similar arrest rates and patterns are happening to Latino communities. The drug war is a vehicle for mass deportation.

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12:00P - 1:15P

Fierce Allies: Collaborating across the divide for drug policy reform J. Miakoda Taylor

drug policy experts to discuss the range of impacts that the global war on drugs is having on the planet, from aerial fumigation using harmful pesticides to illicit growing in national parkland to forced migration of

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3:00P - 4:15P

The War on Drugs Goes Digital: A discussion with Lyn Ulbricht, mother of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

indigenous peoples. This is relevant to the upcoming UNGASS debate as well as the recent COP21 global climate discussions.

Kat Murti, Lyn Ulbricht

La Guerra Contra las Drogas en América Latina

Shenandoah Suite

Hector Joel Anaya Segura, Martín Díaz, Amaya

On Friday, May 29th, 2015, Ross Ulbricht,

Ordorika, Emma Rodríguez Romero

creator of the Silk Road website, was

Georgetown

sentenced to life in prison without parole,

A roundtable panel focusing on drug policy

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is

even though his charges were all non-

reform in Latin America, one of the regions

committed to integrating and addressing

violent. Lyn Ulbricht, Ross’ heartbroken

most affected by the Global War on Drugs.

broad ranging issues, from drug education

mother, stood by his side throughout his

SSDP students from Mexico will join activists

to criminal and racial justice. Doing so

trial and brutal sentencing. In a one-on-one

from El Salvador and Honduras to explore

effectively requires us to build resilient

discussion, Lyn will paint a picture of the man

the issues most affecting their home.

multi-perspective collaborations and engage

who built Silk Road; his reasons for doing so;

in fiercely honest dialogues about the very

the futility of the drug war and its push into

issues that divide us. In this interactive

the digital space; and the myriad ways the

plenary, J. Miakoda Taylor will lead us in

government violates our privacy rights in the

resourcing practices and probing inquiries

process. She will share her own fight to save

that empower each of us to transform the

her son from a life behind bars, and describe

Meyer

obstacles of shame, fear, and rage into

her experience in the prisons, where so many

Shenandoah Suite

catalysts for Fierce Allyship.

non-violent people are captive.

A discussion about the use of cannabis for

Ballot Initiative and Campaign Basics: How to utilize your skills to get involved

the direct treatment of cancer as well as the

Rosslyn Ballroom

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1:15P - 3:15P

Headshots for students Shenandoah C

Betty Aldworth, Sam Chapman, Kat

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4:30P - 5:45P

Cannabis and Cancer Care Justin Kander, Dr. Mikhail Kogan, Melissa

alleviation of side effects associated with conventional treatments. Scientific, clinical, and human evidence will be explored, along

Humphries, Andrew Livingston, Drew

with ongoing developments in the field.

Stromberg, Shaleen Title, Chris Wallis Dogwood

The Anatomy of Writing & Passing Marijuana Laws

Come discuss what working on a cannabis

Sam Chapman, Rob Kampia

campaign is like, and how you can use the

Dogwood

skills you have to get involved. A number of

If you want to legalize marijuana in your

experienced alumni will be covering a range

home state, or simply want to learn how to

Lunch + SSDP Student Congress II

of topics including how to get involved in the

write and pass a law in general, this session

Rosslyn Ballroom

organization of a campaign, policy basics,

is for you. Rob and Sam will be discussing

videography, drafting, campaign finance,

several successful and failed strategies and

and more. Think you’re the next Karl Rove of

lessons from legalizing marijuana through

marijuana? Come hang with these wonks and

ballot initiative campaigns and through

find out!

state legislatures. From getting a "note from

Stop by Shenandoah C anytime from 1:153:15 to get professional headshots taken by Ben Droz Photography. Offer available to students only.

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1:30P - 2:45P

During SSDP Congress: Part II, students in active chapters will vote on their top five choices to elect new Student Directors that will serve a two-year term on SSDP’s Board of Directors. You must be present at this

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This session will feature environmental and

mother", to defusing competing initiatives, we will be sharing stories and lessons from the

front lines of legalizing marijuana in various states across the country.

Dilemmas of Drug Education: Moral purity and transgressive knowledge in the classroom Kenneth Tupper Club

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6:00P - 6:30P

Start Making Sense: Students envision a post-prohibition world Molly Davis, Lauren Parasconda, Brett Phelps

SUNDAY: 04.17.2016 u

9:00A - 9:45A

Breakfast + Activist Storytelling

Rosslyn Ballroom

Irina Alexander, Kevin Franciotti, Lex Pelger

Whether it’s cannabis policy reform, prison

Rosslyn Ballroom

abolition, the movement for cognitive liberty,

This presentation undertakes a critical

Grab some breakfast in the promenade, then

or racial justice, everything that Students

exploration of the past, the present and the

join Psymposia for one of our Psychoactive

for Sensible Drug Policy has done since

potential future of drug education in North

Storytelling events. Hear from our speakers

its inception in 1998 has been aimed at

American schools. It begins with an overview

about an important drug experience in their

dismantling global drug prohibition. 2016 is

of how school-based drug education began

own life & how it impacted themselves &

a transformative year for drug policy reform

in the 19th century, through the Woman’s

their work. Also, we always leave a slot or

that can accelerate our advancement toward

Christian Temperance Union’s anti-alcohol

two open for someone from the audience

more sensible drug policies. Come hear from

campaigns in classrooms in the 1880s. It then

to share their story. Step up and share

fellow SSDP students on their “Vision for

traces the evolution of teaching practices

your own transformational experience. For

a Post-Prohibition World” in our first ever

in drug education and school policies

chapter leaders, come talk to us about how

Lightning Talks session.

we can setup a storytelling event on your

towards drug use, with particular focus on how schools became enmeshed in the escalating “war on (some) drugs” in the late 20th century. The presentation considers

campus. They're a wonderful way to learn

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7:00P - 8:00P

DARE Committee Meetup

from the next generation while also building community.

how harm reduction and public health

Shenandoah Suite

perspectives are (or are not) incorporated

Interested in broadening perspectives in

into school-based drug education today,

SSDP and the drug policy reform movement?

and what comparisons with a similarly

Join members of SSDP’s Diversity, Awareness,

challenging curriculum topic, sex education,

Reflection and Education (DARE) Committee

might illustrate about how to achieve optimal

for an open conversation about facilitating

learning, health and social outcomes. It

diversity and inclusion in the drug policy

Alex Landau

concludes with some reflection on how drug

reform movement. Please bring your own

Rosslyn Ballroom

education may evolve in the coming years,

dinner.

In 2009, Alex Landau was a 19-year-old

as both scientific research and international drug policy reform efforts shift the knowledge base and political landscape for addressing drug issues in schools.

Funding Your Dreams

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9:45A - 10:15A

Keynote: Almost Another Dead Black Man: My transformation from brutalized student to impassioned advocate

college student with little sense of the

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8:30P - 2:00A

Awards Ceremony + Dance Party Rosslyn Ballroom

dangers posed by the color of his skin when he was nearly killed by three Denver police officers for "driving while black". His body was savagely beaten, as was his sense of place in

Miranda Gottlieb, Beth Henneman, Kat

Join us in the ballroom for the SSDP Awards

the world. Alex will share how this experience

Humphries, Lauren Padgett

Ceremony from 9:00-10:00, where we’ll

catalyzed his entry into the movement

Georgetown

recognize members of the SSDP network for

for transformation of law enforcement in

their outstanding work. Then, sing along and

the service of social and racial justice in

dance to an evening of celebrating with a

solidarity and through a lens of passion,

dance party and live music. The Wets, a band

intersectionality, and coalition.

Join these power funders sharing their experiences raising money for nonprofits, political initiatives, and elected representatives with specialties in grant writing and chapter funding through campus resources. Learn strategies for funding your SSDP chapter and beyond! Come participate in this panel to find out how to leverage your professional and academic networks to benefit your social activism.

comprised of SSDP alumni, will perform high energy covers of songs from the 60's through today. Take a photo in the photo booth to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime experience! A cash bar will be available for those 21 and older.

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10:30A - 11:45A

SOLD OUT: How advocacy organizations stay accountable as an industry takes shape Dr. Malik Burnett, Stephanie Izquieta, Shaleen Title, Lauren Vasquez, Cassie Young Shenandoah Suite As the marijuana movement and industry grow rapidly, the line between activists and business is becoming increasingly blurred.

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What does this mean for future generations

the issue of how drug policy affects the

From Meeting to Movement

of activists? Is the marijuana industry taking

mentally ill community. We will examine rates

Tyler Williams

advantage of movement leaders doing their

of arrest and incarceration for drug crimes,

Club

work for free? Conversely, does it dilute the

as well as rates of recidivism among the

power of activists when they accept industry

mentally ill post-incarceration. We will take

money? As state and local policies become

time to discuss some of the most prominent

increasingly influenced by business interests,

proposed solutions to this problem from a

our panelists will discuss how activists can

public policy standpoint.

delineate what they will and won't support.

How can we maintain independence without losing opportunities? We'll discuss solutions to provide accountability for the industry.

Eliminating the Need for Safe Spaces: Combating oppression in our own activist communities Betty Aldworth, Scott Cecil, Monique Chavez, Kyle Harrington, Rachel Wissner Dogwood As activists, we tend to think of our own community as a place free of racism, sexism, queerphobia and other forms of oppression.

Although we all value justice and equity, each of us has grown up in a society that normalizes oppression, which can spill over into our activist communities. In order to realize our common goal of ending the drug war, it is important that we can address oppression within our activist circles. Come hear from fellow SSDP chapter leaders on how to identify and address oppression in our chapters and on campus.

SSDP meeting. Attend to learn the ways in which you can earn "rockstar" status for your chapter. We'll run through best practices for chapter meetings, and take practical steps to bring the work done in our space into the

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12:00P - 1:15P

wider world.

Pursuing Medical Amnesty & Naloxone Access on Campus and Beyond

When Diplomacy Fails: How to fight back against a difficult administration

Thomas Carpenter, Scott Cecil, Daniel Miles,

Aurora Wetherill

Jeremy Sharp Shenandoah Suite Join SSDP chapter leaders and staff members for a comprehensive discussion designed for chapters looking to begin or continue their campus-level, good samaritan campaign.

911 Good Samaritan (Medical Amnesty) policies are at the core of the work many SSDP chapters do. They are effective solutions for enhancing student safety and can help SSDP chapters gain legitimacy on campus. They are also excellent sources of tangible experience in policy making, public relations, and campus outreach. Panelists will discuss their own stories, experiences, and successes with state-level lobbying efforts for good samaritan laws and expansion of

Gunnar Aas, Jake Agliata, Catherine Sevcenko, Georgetown SSDP students have been an incredibly powerful force behind policy change on college campuses. Yet it seems that at some point, every chapter will inevitably come into conflict with their school's administration.

Come hear fellow SSDP students and alumni address some of the most common obstacles student activists must face when pursuing policy change, as well as what to do when your campus administration is actively censoring your voice or otherwise denying your rights to free speech & assembly.

The panel will include substantial time for audience members to share their own stories and ask questions to the panel about current issues they are facing.

Marijuana and the Media in the Age of Legalization

naloxone access at the campus, local, and

David Bienenstock, Mikayla Hellwich, Steven

and presentation of new SSDP resources

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Nelson, Evan Nison, Abdullah Saeed

for chapters working on Naloxone access

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expansion and public awareness.

Lunch + Drug Policy Reform Movement Leaders Plenary

Join a diverse group of professionals for a moderated discussion of how legalization has

The Power of SSDP Peer Education: An introduction

(and hasn't) affected the media's approach

Frances Fu, Dr. Vilmarie Narloch, Jerry Otero

to marijuana, including insiders' perspectives

Dogwood

from dedicated cannabis journalists, establishment reporters new to the cannabis beat, and video producers working within the global entertainment-industrial complex.

Plus tips for activists, advocates, and other interested parties on how to best interact with the media on this issue.

state levels. There will also be a discussion

Are you interested in teaching your peers about drugs? Have you ever been faced with a situation where you needed to refer a peer to resources? Students for Sensible Drug Policy is pleased to present a sneak peak of our peer education program. Facilitators Dr. Vilmarie Narloch and Frances Fu will discuss

The Mental Illness of Drug Policy

why it’s essential for SSDPers to learn peer

Anthony Carrasco, Dr. Vilmarie Narloch,

education skills, give you an overview of

Garrett Reuscher

resources to help equip you to be effective

Georgetown

peer educators, and talk about opportunities

This session will be devoted to exploring

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This session takes place in the form of a mock

to get involved with this program as soon as this summer!

1:30P - 2:45P

Betty Aldworth, Robert Capecchi, Michael Collins, Rick Doblin (via video), Neill Franklin, Steph Sherer Rosslyn Ballroom Hear from leaders in the drug policy reform movement representing major organizations.

We'll discuss opportunities and challenges on the horizon as we all continue our fight against the failed War on Drugs with a special focus on the critical contributions of the student movement, and leaders it produces.

3:00P - 4:15P

Why Direct Service Matters

Merrigan, Katie Stone, Oliver Zerrudo

Sentencing in the Criminal Justice System: Who is incarcerated for how long? Presented by the Charles Koch Institute

Shenandoah Suite

Eric Alston, Michael Collins, Molly Gill, Lauren

Dogwood

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Ethical Drug Consumption Alex Betsos, Frances Fu, Penelope Hill, Sarah

Last year's #EveryLineCounts campaign shamed casual cocaine users by blaming

Krisai

Maryanne Alderson, Irina Alexander, Kevin Franciotti, Dr. Vilmarie Narloch, Zoe Steinsnyder

Community engagement is an integral

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part of any social justice movement, and

them for the brutal violence and

Driven largely by ever-lengthening sentences,

the drug policy reform movement is no

environmental degradation often linked to

the U.S. prison population has increased by

different. Come to this session to learn how

cocaine production. The campaign, however,

almost 800 percent since the 1980s. While

to identify volunteer opportunities related

did not draw attention to the atrocities

all criminals should be held accountable,

to drug policy, hear about the challenges of

caused by prohibitionist drug policies. This

punishments should be proportional to

volunteer work and strategies for working

session aims to examine what "ethical"

the crime committed. Stories such as

with marginalized populations.

behavior means in the context of the global

that of Weldon Angelos, who is serving a

drug war. Is it possible to ethically consume

mandatory minimum sentence of 55 years

drugs or should the focus be on reducing the

for selling marijuana, force us to reconsider

harms of unethical behavior?

the demands of justice. Please join experts

Psychedelics and Entheogens: Cognitive tools for healing and learning Kevin Garcia, Matthew Getzin, Jennifer Purdon, Kenneth Tupper Dogwood This presentation explores the re-emerging scientific research on the beneficial potential of substances such as LSD, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca. It reviews traditional indigenous spiritual and healing practices involving “plant teachers” as exemplars of socially integrative psychoactive

from the Charles Koch Institute, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and the Reason Foundation to discuss whether there is a better way for the American criminal justice system to maintain public safety while protecting human dignity.

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4:30P - 5:45P

The War on Drugs: Women on the frontlines Kat Murti, Caroline Naughton, Kemba Smith Pradia, Jane West, Rachel Wissner Shenandoah Suite

#Adulting: How to get and keep the job You want Mikayla Hellwich, Lauren Padgett, Kim Stiens, Shaleen Title Club Ever wonder what it takes to land the job of your dreams? We’ll cover the skills you need to get the job you want and how to excel and be happy once you have it. This panel will cover how to be disciplined and manage your time, resumé building, nailing the interview, and workplace happiness. Plus, learn what the drug policy reform movement and cannabis industry’s hiring managers look for in an applicant.

Getting the Word Out: Tips for taking over campus media

substance use, which challenge today’s

Though men are often seen as the primary

drug policy authorities no less than colonial

targets of the drug war, women have long

and religious authorities centuries ago. It

been on the frontlines. Women comprise one

then covers some of the original scientific

of the fastest growing segments of the U.S.

research on psychedelics from the 1950s

prison population. Two-thirds of women in

and 1960s, when they were considered

federal prison are there for nonviolent drug

promising psychiatric medicines, and the

offenses. Three quarters are mothers—many

renewed research in the 21st century that is

of them sole caregivers. Pregnant women

corroborating and advancing earlier findings.

and mothers are uniquely vulnerable to

It explores some of the methodological

criminal justice involvement. Conspiracy laws

and political issues that faced both past

coupled with mandatory minimums have

and present psychedelic researchers. It will

sentenced women to decades—or even

also address some of the other trajectories

life—in prison simply for living with a partner

by which entheogens are re-entering the

in the drug trade. Meanwhile, activist groups

control of the narrative on your campus.

public domain, with particular focus on

like SSDP boast strong female leadership, and the legal cannabis industry has more female

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the transnational expansion of ayahuasca drinking practices. It concludes with some

executives per capita than all U.S. businesses

brief consideration of the future directions

as a whole.The women on this panel will

for psychedelic and entheogenic practices,

share powerful stories about what it means

how they may contribute to individual

to be a woman in Drug War America.

Chris Goldstein, Jon Perri, Cameron Price, Elise Szabo, Tyler Williams Georgetown Whether it's radio, newspaper, TV, or blogging, shaping the voice of campus media is a great way to spread the word about the campaigns your chapter is working on. Several current and former SSDP chapter leaders will discuss how they have successfully utilized campus media to help their chapters grow and change policy.

Attend this panel and learn how you can take

6:00P - 6:30P

Start Making Sense: Students envision a post-prohibition world + Closing Ceremonies Miranda Gottlieb, Richard Hartnell Rosslyn Ballroom

and collective human flourishing, and

Come hear from fellow SSDP students on their

how evidence-based public policies may

“Vision for a Post-Prohibition World” in our first

accommodate them.

ever Lightning Talks session.

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SPEAKER BIOS

Gunnar Aas is the president of Hamline

professional with some of Denver’s most

National Commission on Human Rights, local

University’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy

well-respected nonprofit organizations. Betty

secretaries of the Commission to Eradicate

chapter in Saint Paul, MN. He is working to

served as advocacy director for Colorado’s

Discrimination(COPRED) and the Youth

end a flawed and ineffective prohibition, to

2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana

Institute (INJUVE) to provide input on drug

dispel myths about drug use, abuse, and

Like Alcohol--the collaborative committee

control strategies.

addiction through peer education, and to

responsible for legalizing, taxing and

expand harm reduction programs in his

regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado-

Scott Bernstein is a program officer for

community. As a result of his work with his

-and was the Deputy Director of the National

chapter and other student and youth-led

Cannabis Industry Association in 2013, the

policy reform groups, and his Social Justice

organization’s breakthrough year.

and Sociology studies, Aas developed

Eric Alston is Senior Policy and Research

Africa. Previously Scott worked as a lawyer in

Analyst at Charles Koch Institute.

Vancouver leading a campaign built around

Irina Alexander '07 works as an Outreach

strategic human rights litigation on behalf

a strong belief that the advocacy and actions of young people are the foundation of movements where effective and revolutionary reforms are made possible.

Jake Agliata '11* is SSDP's Outreach Coordinator for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and International regions, where he helps develop student activists and chapters.

He also chairs the International Outreach Committee, where he works with other global allies to amplify the youth voice on drug policy reform at the international level. Prior to joining SSDP's staff in Summer 2014, Jake co-founded the SSDP chapter at Dickinson College in 2011 and served as president from 2013-2014.

Maryanne Alderson is in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Masters program at California State University, Long Beach. She is the founding member and president of her Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter at her campus. She is currently employed at Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles Center for Harm Reduction, where she began as a volunteer. The Center for Harm Reduction is a needle exchange site where Maryanne is able to provide needle exchange services and narcan trainings to clients. She has also attended Los Angeles Police Department meetings to educate law enforcement on the benefits of needle exchange and narcan. She considers Homeless Healthcare her happy place, where she knows she is fighting the War on Drugs one needle at a time.

Counselor for At The Crossroads, an organization in San Francisco that helps unstably housed young adults live happy and healthy lives. In her spare time, she works as a supervisor for the Zendo, a project of MAPS that helps people navigate difficult psychedelic experiences, and co-organizes

the Global Drug Policy Program at the Open Society Foundations. At OSF, Scott works in the areas of international drug policy at the United Nations and drug policy in

of people who use drugs, initiating legal challenges around heroin-assisted treatment, supervised consumption and challenging anti–harm reduction municipal bylaws.

He also was involved in Vancouver’s Insite case—on the legality of the city’s supervised injection facility—at all levels of court.

the SF Psychedelic Society. Her roots in

Alex Betsos is a sociology and

social justice grew out of drug policy reform.

anthropology undergraduate at Simon Fraser

When she lived in DC, she served as the SSDP

University. He is the Personnel Liaison for

National Board Chair from 2010-2012, worked

Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy

for the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation,

(CSSDP), and the co-founder and volunteer

volunteered as a team leader for HIPS, and

coordinator for Karmik, a Vancouver-

helped work on DC's Good Samaritan Law.

based nightlife and festival harm reduction

Héctor Joel Anaya Segura is an

organization. His future areas of interest

anthropologist from Mexico City and a chapter leader for Estudiantes por una Política Sensata de Drogas (EPSD), the SSDP chapter in Mexico City. He has also been involved for 5 years with the most notable drug policy NGO in Mexico, the Colectivo por una política Integral hacia las Drogas(CUPIHD) Involved as a research assistant staff member of the Executive Director and developed

include Novel Psychoactive Substances, drugs and their relationship to bodies and affects, drug use and communities of care, as well as actor-network approaches to studying drugs. Particularly, he wants to begin the process of looking at drugs as non-human actors, and the radical possibilities that come through drug using communities and the risks that pertain to them.

specialties in local illegal drug markets, small

A columnist, frequent contributor and

scale drug dealing law, drug trafficking modes

video host/producer at VICE Media, David

and history and operation of Mexican drug

Bienenstock is the author of How to Smoke

smugglers’ groups. Member in National

Pot (Properly): A Highbrow Guide to Getting

School of Anthropology for five years, helping

High (Penguin / Random House - April 2016),

organize and annual conference about the

as well as a ten-year veteran of High Times

history and anthropology of the world drug

magazine. He continues to write frequently

problem with the support of the UNESCO

about marijuana politics and culture, and co-

Betty Aldworth joined SSDP in February

Chair Transformaciones Económicas y

produces the VICE series Bong Appetit, which

2014 as Executive Director. Since 2009, Betty

Sociales Relacionadas con el Problema

explores the intersection of cannabis and

has specialized in community outreach,

Internacional de las Drogas. As a grassroots

cuisine. He has appeared as a marijuana expert

public relations, advocacy, and policy

organizer, worked with students and people

on CNN, NPR, MSNBC, HBO and Fox News.

reform as a consultant to cannabis-related

who use drugs presenting workshops on

businesses and nonprofit organizations.

drug policy, harm reduction, youth and

David Borden is founder and executive

Prior to her work in drug policy and medical

gender perspective, and the history and

cannabis, she was a volunteer leadership

sociology of drugs. Working with the

director of StoptheDrugWar.org. Borden played a leading role in pioneering the use of the Internet for education and organizing in

* Throughout this program, and on other SSDP materials, you'll notice a year following many names. This indicates the first year that person got involved with SSDP, and their status as an alumnus. Think of it as a person's "SSDP Class of" year.

9

drug policy reform after founding DRCNet in

for Public Policy, Thomas has spent his

cannabis industry. His previous experience

late 1993. Borden oversaw the organization's

undergraduate career helping push for a

includes consulting for statewide political

work on the Higher Education Act Reform

comprehensive and mandatory Medical

campaigns, small business development

Campaign, an effort to repeal a federal law

Amnesty/ Good Samaritan policy on both the

and media relations, as well as a registered

that denies students financial aid because of

UTK campus and for the state of TN. Thomas

lobbyist for drug policy reform at the local,

drug convictions. Currently, David is the lead

also plays trombone, writes opinion columns

state, and federal levels. In 2013 Sam

organizer of an ad hoc coalition of global drug

for the student newspaper, and is President

co-authored House Bill 3460, the Oregon

policy organizations working on influencing

of the Campus Events Board. He served as

law that legalized medical marijuana

positive change at the upcoming UNGASS.

an intern for Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-

dispensaries. Sam currently serves on the

Rose Bono is a Master of Public Health

09) in the summer of 2015 and is currently

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Business

looking for a job.

Rules Advisory Committee. He has been a

and former chapter leader of SSDP at VCU.

Anthony Carrasco is pursuing a degree

resident of Oregon for 20 years and holds a

She is a certified Virginia REVIVE! naloxone

in Legal Studies and Political Science and

trainer. She has advocated for a statewide

a minor in Public Policy at the University of

Safe Reporting of Overdoses policy and

California, Berkeley. Anthony serves on the

Vice President of SSDP at University of

expanded access to naloxone in Virginia.

leadership committee of Berkeley SSDP while

New Mexico Law School, Co-President of

Dr. Malik Burnett is a resident physician

pursuing his particular interest in the effects

LAMBDA, and Board Member of American

of drug policy on the mentally ill community.

Constitution Society, Monique Chavez ’s

His interest in the topic was sparked by his

passion for drug policy reform was ignited

work at an Oakland non-profit which serves

at the young age of fourteen when she

members of the homeless community

attended her first rave. At the University of

suffering from mental illness and drug

New Mexico School of Law, where she will

addiction, work he hopes to continue as an

graduate in May, she re-chartered the SSDP

academic and activist.

chapter and sheparded it to become an

legalizing the possession of marijuana, which

Marco Castillo is the founding Exectuvie

impactful organization on campus. She is

won the support of 70% of District voters as

Director of the Institute for Social and

a policy manager at the Drug Policy Alliance’s

Cultural Practice and Resarch, Inc, a Mexico-

Office of National Affairs and continues to

US non profit organization working since

work with the local and state governments

2001 to create conditions for social justice

to advance drug policy reform legislation

in the Mexico-US region through education,

around the country.

organizing, solidarity and advocay. From that

student at Virginia Commonwealth University

at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, who works to advance the broader drug policy reform agenda with the goal of shifting US drug policy from framework based on criminal justice to one based on public health. He successfully co-chaired the Initiative 71 campaign, a ballot measure

Prior to becoming director of federal policies,

Oregon in Philosophy and Political Science.

active in the medical cannabis community, advocating at various hearings and lobbying local legislators. She has interned at 4Front Ventures and the Drug Policy Alliance, and plans on forming New Mexico’s first comprehensive cannabis law firm following graduation.

of the Migrant Families Popular Assembly,

Michael Collins is deputy director at Drug

the Migrant Families Center and the Acción

Policy Alliance's Office of National Affairs,

Migrante Campaign. Marco Castillo is a Social

in Washington, D.C., where he works with

Anthropologyst from México's Puebla State

Congress on a variety of drug policy issues

Autonomus University.

including marijuana reform, sentencing

legislatures. Robert joined the MPP staff

Scott Cecil '10 joined SSDP as a student

reform, and drug war spending. He is

in October of 2009. He played a major

member in 2010 when he cofounded the

role in the MPP-led effort to remove the

first SSDP chapter in the state of Arizona. He

criminal penalties for possession of up to

was elected to SSDP Board of Directors in

an ounce of marijuana in Rhode Island while

2013 and joined SSDP's staff in the summer

simultaneously redrafting that state’s medical

of 2014 as the outreach coordinator for the

marijuana dispensary system. Robert also

Southeast and Southwest regions. He plans

Molly Davis is a current junior at Rocky

led MPP’s successful effort to decriminalize

to dedicate his entire professional life, as

Mountain College in Billings, Montana. She

marijuana possession in Delaware and was a

long as it takes, to help bring an end to the

is pursuing an undergraduates degree in

key member of the team that passed medical

War on Drugs and working for restituion

Political Science as well as Communication

marijuana legislation in Minnesota.

for fomerly incarcerated individuals and

Studies with a minor in Business. Besides

Thomas Carpenter is a Senior at the

communties negatively impacted by the Drug

SSDP, she serves as treasurer for her college's

War disaster.

Student Senate and is actively involved with

and minoring in Political Science. As a

Sam Chapman '09 is a founding member

Debate Team.

Senator and later City of Knoxville Liaison

of New Economy Consulting LLC, a firm

Martín Díaz is a pastor of the Evangelical

for the UT Student Government and Baker

based in Portland Oregon focused on

Protestant Church of the Savior and a

Scholar at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center

advising entrepreneurs and investors in the

refugee of the War on Drugs. He is a Pastoral

Robert Cappechi served as deputy director of state policies at the Marijuana Policy Project. In that role, Robert was the point person for MPP’s legislative work in about a quarter of the various state

University of Tennessee majoring in Classics

10

position, Marco has facilitated the formation

baccalaureate degree from the University of

originally from Scotland, and lived in France, Spain and Mexico, before moving to the U.S. Michael has discussed drug policy issues in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and on CNN and the BBC.

Theologian specializing in Human Rights and

law and industry organizations to research

Chris Goldstein is the Senior Editor

Drug Policy, as well as chairman of the board

cannabis policy in various states, and

at Freedom Leaf Magazine. He has also

of the Evangelical Protestant Church of El

write and review applications for cannabis

written a weekly marijuana column at

Salvador, working with international church

cultivation centers and dispensary licenses.

Philly.com since 2013. Chris has served on

and interfaith organizations such as the FLM,

On campus, she was involved with Sexual

the board of directors at the Coalition for

CLAI, MST, GEMRIP, and Religions for Peace,

Health and Assault Peer Educators (SHAPE),

Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ),

to name a few.

Alpha Chi Omega sorority and and has

Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana

Stephen Doheney '09 lives in Richmond,

served as the President of the Panhellenic

(PA4MMJ), NORML New Jersey and

Association.

PhillyNORML. He is a frequent commentator

include medical cannabis and overdose

Kevin Garcia refounded the SSDP chapter

in television, print and radio. Chris also works

reversal and prevention. He has been certified

at Florida International University in the

as a Virginia REVIVE! naloxone trainer since

summer of 2015. He is graduating in spring

2014 and has trained over 50 lay rescuers.

2016 with a degree in psychology and plans

Kevin Franciotti '08 has been a

to pursue a PhD in cognitive neuroscience.

Virginia. His drug policy reform priorities

as a media and PR consultant to non-profits and the private sector. His biggest reform accomplishment so far was helping to win marijuana decriminalization for Philadelphia

Joining SSDP has been one of the most

in 2014.

rewarding decisions of his life. His favorite

Miranda Gottlieb is a graduating Senior

part about SSDP and the individuals he has

at the University of Tennessee majoring in

met through it is that he no longer feels alone

Political Science and Hispanic Studies. Her

anymore in the fight for what he believes in.

combined experience as an intern at the New

His ultimate goal is to help usher in an era

Mexico Department of Health and the Drug

where people will not be stigmatized the

Policy Alliance greatly influenced her to begin

way he his been by his friends and family for

working on local advocacy projects and form

having an interest in drug reform. Kevin has

Students for Sensible Drug Policy on campus.

also spent considerable time volunteering for

Miranda is a Baker Scholar in the Howard

various harm reduction organizations.

Baker Center for Public Policy where she

Northeastern SSDP’s 3rd annual Perspectives

Matthew Getzin is a fourth year graduate

currently studies Native American cannabis

in Psychedelics in 2013. He has also been

student in Biomedical Engineering with a

writing on psychedelics and harm reduction

focus on medical imaging at Rensselaer

as an independent journalist for the past

Polytechnic Institute in Troy New, York, where

few years and has recently returned from his

he is a PhD candidate. He is the founder and

first volunteer experience with the ZENDO

President of the SSDP chapter at Rensselaer.

Project at Envision festival in Costa Rica last

They are focused on improving the drug

projects both domestically and abroad.

February.

education on campus for incoming and

Kyle Harrington is a junior at the

Major Neill Franklin, executive director of

existing students. Their hope is to engage

University of Connecticut, majoring in

their peers in meaningful discourse, promote

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

safety & harm reduction, and provide better

They began their engagement with student

information than what is currently available

organizing in the fall of 2014. Since then, Kyle

for students in their campus. The Rensselaer

has been involved with SSDP, UConn’s Office

SSDP chapter prides themselves on being

of Diversity and Equity, University Cultural

informed decision makers and promoting

Centers, and is certified as a sexual assault

civic engagement among the campus

crisis counselor for the state of Connecticut.

community. Matthew hopes to focus on

They are currently working for UConn’s

brain imaging research upon completion of

Office of Diversity and Equity, aiding in the

graduate school.

organization and management of Title IX

Molly Gill is Director of Federal Legislative

cases, tracking trends of sexual and gender

longtime advocate of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and harm reduction. From his role as Northeastern University SSDP President co-sponsoring the Boston ibogaine conference in 2009, to his current position at the Drug Policy Alliance as Program Associate for novel psychoactive substances. In 2011, he was a participant in the MAPS observational study investigating the use of ibogaine in treatment of opiate dependency, an experience he shared at

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is a 33-year police veteran who led multijurisdictional anti-narcotics task forces for the Maryland State Police and ran training for the Baltimore Police Department. After seeing several of his law enforcement friends killed in the line of fire while enforcing drug policies, Neill realized he needed to work to change these laws that cause so much harm but do nothing to reduce drug use.

Frances Fu '11 first got involved with SSDP in 2011, when she co-founded the Northwestern University chapter as a freshman. Since then, harm reduction has been a guiding principle behind all of her professional and personal pursuits, and she strives to educate people about the War on Drugs in a holistic manner. In the drug policy world, Frances has served on SSDP’s Board of Directors, and has worked with cannabis

Affairs at Families Against Mandatory Minimums. She works with federal legislators, affected family members, and other criminal justice stakeholders to promote sentences that protect public safety and that are

policy. Over the course of her undergraduate career she has worked on numerous grant applications, applied for and consulted on national scholarships, and successfully funded several undergraduate research

based violence on campus, and developing more effective prevention efforts for the university. Throughout their activism, Kyle has been dedicated to invigorating and strengthening the intersections between

proportionate to the offense. She also

different student movements.

serves as a commissioner on the District

Voracious autodidact Richard Hartnell

of Columbia Sentencing and Criminal Code

once got expelled from his hometown

Revision Commission.

community college for earning too many

11

credits. Subsequently, he joined a circus

Drugs, Mental Heath).

specializing in cannabis extract production

collective in Oakland and spent the next half

Kat Humphries '10, Compliance Specialist

and guiding patients on the optimal use of

decade touring the US and EU. More recently, he earned a full scholarship from the University of California, Santa Cruz to satisfy an ensuing curiosity about the intersection

in 2013 after spending the preceding year working as a legal clerk for an intellectual

extracts. He has written several books on the use of cannabis to treat cancer, and has presented at four conferences on this topic.

property law firm focusing on patent and

Dr. Mikhail Kogan is the Medical Director

trademark law. Kat initiated her involvement

of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine. He

in drug policy in 2010 when she founded a

received his medical degree from the Drexel

chapter of SSDP at the College of Charleston.

University College of Medicine and completed

In college, she changed marijuana policies at

further training at Montefiore Medical Center

a collegiate level, expanded her alma mater's

and The George Washington University

Good Samaritan Policy, lobbied at a national

Medical Center. In addition to multiple

level for drug policy reform, interned with

research and teaching responsibilities at

Mikayla Hellwich '10 spent 3 years as

the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office's Juvenile

the GW Medical Center, Dr. Kogan currently

an SSDP chapter leader at the University of

Arbitration program, and served as the

serves as Associate Director of the Geriatrics

Maryland. In September 2014, she was hired

Chairwoman of the College's judicial board

Fellowship Program and provides geriatric

as the media relations associate for Law

for two years. Currently, Kat sits on the

consultations at George Washington

Enforcement Against Prohibition. At past

Colorado Juvenile Defender Center Board

University Hospital.

SSDP conferences, she’s spoken on panels

of Directors and previously served on the

about harm reduction and responsible

International Students for Sensible Drug

Laura Krasovitzky is Laura Krasovitzky is

partying. She’s currently an officer for the

Policy Board of Directors.

Mid-Atlantic Region’s Alumni Association,

Stephanie Izquieta '13 joined SSDP in as

Psymposia. She first became involved in drug

a junior in college when she founded SUNY

policy as an undergraduate in 2012 by co-

Binghamton’s SSDP chapter. She continued

hosting psychedelics meetings in Philadelphia

her involvement by serving as her chapter’s

and helping start the SSDP chapter at the

of entheogens and creativity; he majors in cognitive science and neuroscience while running the local SSDP chapter and an annual juggling convention. Last year he joined the Zendo Project, where he trained as a “sitter” for festival-goers struggling with difficult psychedelic experiences.

where she helps organize regional alumni events and camping trips. She lives in Washington, D.C., and is passionate about friendship, cats, and justice.

a social justice activist from Mexico City and Communications & Social Media Manager of

leader until her election as an SSDP Board

University of Pennsylvania. She worked as

Elizabeth Henneman is an undergraduate

Member. Prior to joining the Board, she

Volunteer Coordinator in 2013 and Marketing

neuroscience and psychology student at the

interned at the Drug Policy Alliance in New

Director in 2015 for Horizons Psychedelics

University of Colorado Boulder. Henneman

York City to immerse herself in the drug

Conference in New York and interned in the

has been the president of the CU Boulder

reform movement, and better her leadership

media department of the Drug Policy Alliance

chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy

skills. She is the current PR chair for Women

for six months in 2015. She is currently part

since May 2015, where she has organized 18

Grow NYC and works for the National

of the 2016 Caravan for Peace, Life and

different events including various fundraisers,

Cannabis Bar Association as their executive

Justice traveling from Honduras to New York

film screenings, and the annual Cannabis

assistant.

for UNGASS, as translator and representative

Symposium held on 4/20.

Rob Kampia co-founded the Marijuana

for the Drug Policy Alliance.

Penelope Hill is currently working as

Policy Project in 1995 and has served as

Lauren Krisai is Director of Criminal Justice

a Mobile Drug Safety Outreach Worker

its executive director ever since. Rob is the

Reform at Reason Foundation.

based in Melbourne, Australia. Penelope

architect of most of the state-level marijuana

currently volunteers with the Victorian

laws that have been enacted in the United

Alex Landau is a father, a community

AIDS Council, Save the Children Australia,

States since 2000. Most importantly, MPP

Homeless of Melbourne, and is an active

legalized marijuana in Colorado in 2012 and

member of the Enpsychedelia community

Alaska in 2014. Rob has done dozens of TV

radio program. She is also a co-founder of

interviews and debates, and testified before

SSDP Australia, President of SSDP Deakin

Congress and nine state legislatures. Rob

University, representative of the Oceania

graduated valedictorian of his high school

region within the International Working

class in Pennsylvania; served three months

Group for YouthRise, and Project Supervisor

in jail for growing marijuana for personal use;

for the Global Health Next Generation

was elected student body president of Penn

Network. Penelope is currently undertaking

State University; and graduated with honors

a Masters of International and Community

from Penn State with a major in Engineering

Development at Deakin University, Australia;

Science.

and holds a Master of Public Health;

Justin Kander '09 is the Research &

Social Justice Minor.

Development Coordinator for Aunt Zelda's,

Andrew Livingston '09 serves as a policy

Bachelor of Health Sciences, and Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other

12

for Vicente Sederberg, joined the VS team

a nonprofit cannabis collective in California

member, and a human rights advocate dedicated to the transformation of law enforcement. Adopted in infancy by a white family, raised in primarily white communities, and educated in white schools, Alex was ignorant to the ways his black skin was viewed differently by normative society.

In 2009, he survived an extreme case of brutality at the hands of Denver police officers, catalyzing his work as a community organizer with the Denver Justice Project and is a student at the University of Colorado Denver, majoring in Communication with a

analyst and economist for Vicente Sederberg

LLC. He first worked alongside the Vicente

at an established law firm, assisting in the

in January of 2012. She earned her B.A.

Sederberg team in 2012 during Colorado’s

launch of a local needle exchange program,

in political science from the University of

Amendment 64 campaign, which legalized

working for a UN Special Rapporteur, and

California at Berkeley, and is a graduate of

marijuana for adults. Andrew started

leading a monthly expungement clinic. She

Oaksterdam University. Kat lives and works

his career in drug policy while at Colgate

will be graduating in May and sitting for the

in Washington, D.C. and occasionally plays on

University and founded a chapter of Students

California Bar Exam in July.

the One Hitters softball team.

for Sensible Drug Policy in 2009. During this

Sarah Merrigan is a senior at the University of Nebraska Omaha majoring in

Dr. Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, PsyD. '09, earned her doctorate in Clinical

Political Science. She founded the first SSDP

Psychology from Roosevelt University,

chapter in Nebraska in 2013 and has served

where she worked as a Research Assistant

as the chapter's president for the past three

at the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy

years. She also serves on SSDP's Board of

and was a member and chapter leader of

Directors, where she is the Vice-Chair of

the RU chapter of SSDP. She is currently

the International Outreach Committee and

serving on the board of directors of SSDP.

time he focused his studies on the economics of illegal markets and the harms they create for societies around the world. At Vicente Sederberg, Andrew provides analysis on legal and regulatory matters as well as economic market projections for adult-use and medical marijuana laws in Colorado and around the world.

is involved with the Diversity, Awareness,

Dr. Narloch’s interests in drug education,

Murtaza Majeed is the International

Reflection and Education Committee. Since

access to treatment, and harm reduction

Coordinator for YouthRise has been working

June 2015 she has also worked as one

policy and practice have led her to numerous

on drug treatment, policymaking, advocacy

of SSDP's UNGASS Coordinator interns,

projects, including serving as a member of

on drug policy, and harm reduction services.

helping to organize Model UNGASS and the

the Chicago Consortium on College Alcohol

Murtaza has worked with Medicines du

upcoming demonstration at Madison Square

Harm Reduction, and the provision of

Monde and was the national training

Park. After graduating, Sarah hopes to

psychotherapy and harm reduction services

and resource center coordinator for the

continue working in the realm of international

to a variety of clients in the Chicagoland area.

Afghanistan National AIDS Control Program,

drug policy and social justice issues.

the first methadone clinic funded by the

Caroline Naughton is a Chicago-based

Melissa Meyer is a Georgetown Law grad

student activist who plants the seeds of

with a background startups, advocacy, and

future generations through sensible drug

health. After dealing with a life-threatening

policy education. As a former SSDP chapter

blood disease and experiencing the loss

leader, Caroline has worked to expand and

of two close friends to cancer, she started

connect the drug policy reform network

HealthMJ.com as a way to educate the public

on her campus and to equip its leadership

on the benefits of cannabis. HealthMJ is

with the tools necessary to thrive. This

especially focused on how cannabis can help

winter, Caroline helped organize a prison

Kendra McSweeney is a Professor of

cancer patients.

divestment campaign with Black Lives Matter

Geography at Ohio State University, with

Daniel Miles is a sophomore Political

at Northwestern University and continues

Global Fund and Afghanistan government was one of his organisation's achievements.

Training and development of harm reduction programs, OST to other health staffs in Afghanistan was part of his responsibilities through the National Training and Resource Centre.

over 20 years of research experience with indigenous societies of eastern Honduras.

Her and colleagues’ recent work on the devastating social and ecological effects of cocaine trafficking through Central America has received wide policy and media attention.

She has won Ohio State’s highest teaching award. Her research has been funded by the Open Society Foundations, the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation, and published in Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).

Lauren Mendelsohn is a law student at the University of California, Irvine and currently serves on SSDP’s Board of Directors. She has been involved with SSDP since 2009 and led the chapter at UMD before starting the chapter at UCI Law. Some of her recent accomplishments include helping to found a cannabis law practice

Science and Philosophy major at The College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.

He is the Vice President of Students for Sensible Drug Policy there and has recently been responsible for expansions of naloxone access and the campus good samaritan

to build coalitions with other social justice groups on campus. As she approaches graduation, Caroline hopes that her leadership and allyship have helped cultivate a more cooperative and politically conscious campus culture.

& medical amnesty policies. Daniel is also

Steven Nelson is a reporter at US News

a DJ for his campus radio network and a

& World Report, where he frequently covers

staff writer for The Rival, an alternative

cannabis politics and policy as a regular beat

campus newspaper. He plans to work in drug

for one of the nation's oldest establishment

policy after college, attend law school, and

news sources.

participate in the judiciary.

Evan Nison '09 is the Executive Director

Kat Murti '09 has been actively involved

of NORML New Jersey, the co-founder and

with SSDP since January 2009, and currently

director of the NY Cannabis Alliance, and sits

serves as an Appointed Director on the

on the Board of Directors of Students for

Board of Directors, Secretary of the Board

Sensible Drug Policy. He also runs a cannabis

of Trustees, and Chair of the Diversity

specific public relations firm, NisonCo. As

Awareness Reflection and Education (SSDP

both a political activist and a professional

DARE) committee. She also edits the Monthly

media strategist, Nison has interacted

Mosaic. Kat was named an Alumni All Star in

successfully with the press, helping to spread

December of 2010 and a Spotlighted Alum

a responsible, fact-based message about

13

cannabis. He has been quoted in news

drug writer and scientist based in Brooklyn,

University of Nevada. He is also an avid skier

sources including the NY Times, Politico, USA

his current project is called "Anandamide

and an organic gardener.

Today, NBC New York, Bloomberg TV, and

or: the Cannabinoid": a graphic novel about

Forbes.

cannabis focusing on the intricacies of the

Cameron Price works as a communications

Amaya Ordorika is a researcher in

endocannabinoid system, the War on Weed,

human rights and drug policy at the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights. She is also a member of ReverdeSer Colectivo a youth organization that strives to change drug policy in Mexico and end the war on drugs by working from a harm reduction from the global south

by the elderly. He graduated from Boston University with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology before spending a number of years of the road collecting anecdotes of drug use from the Burners to the scientists to the underground medical use. He writes

perspective.

articles about the science of drugs and the

Jerry Otero, MA , is the Youth Policy

Alternet.

Manager for the Drug Policy Alliance. He is Founder and Director of Cre8tiveYouTH*ink, a NYC-based creative arts youth development collective. Formerly the Assistant Director of Family and Helpline Services at The Partnership for Drugfree Kids, Jerry has also served as Supervisor for High School Drug Education and Intervention Services at the

anecdotes of their use for publications like

Previously, she was a mental health counselor for adults and youth in the Boston area for three years. Lauren first became active in

to institute a drug policy which supports instead of punishes students. While he was at university he also wrote for and edited Salient, the weekly student newspaper. In 2013, he won Best Feature at the NZ Student Press Awards for a piece on marriage equality. He hosts an arts, culture and politics show on his local radio station, and in his

Jennifer Purdon is a Junior at the

represented the Nonviolent Radical Party, an NGO in Consultative Statues with the UN in New York, Geneva and Vienna covering the promotion and protection of human rights, international criminal law, the abolition of

Among other things, he currently coordinates

gifts, and growing the Sensible Society.

successful campaign to get the university

spare time, he listens to and plays music.

Lauren Padgett is SSDP's Development

possible, focusing primarily on events, major

of Wellington chapter of SSDP and led a

from 2008 to 2013. Since 1996, he has

the death penalty, women's right's, and the

to raise the funds that make SSDP's work

Last year he founded the Victoria University

Marco Perduca was a Senator in Italy

New York City Dept. of Education.

Officer and works with the executive team

reform of the UN Conventions on Drugs.

Legalizziamo! (www.legalizziamo.it - let's legalize!) a campaign to promote the legal regulation of the production, consumption, and commerce of cannabis in Italy. He has a blog on HuffingtonPost.it and on twitter is @ perdukistan.

University of Connecticut majoring in Psychology and Health & Wellness through music. She currently serves as the President of the SSDP chapter at UCONN which continues to have a stellar presence on campus and in the surrounding communities.

Jennifer is focused primarily on policy work and harm reduction on campus, including drug education & awareness, state-level marijuana legalization in Connecticut, the Amend the Rave Act campaign, and psychedelic/music therapy. She has also volunteered for a number of drug policy/ harm reduction organizations and causes

Jon Perri '04 is the Associate Campaigns

such as MAPS, ATRA, and the Zendo Project.

Director at Change.org. He has driven some

Most recently, she lobbied in favor of

of the largest digital advocacy campaigns in

marijuana legalization at the Connecticut

since. She is a Washington, DC native.

the world on issues including criminal justice

State Legislature earlier this month.

Lauren Parasconda is President/

reform, disability rights, and internet privacy.

He helps manage a team of campaigners who

Garrett Reuscher is a Care Coordinator

drug policy reform after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease and has advocated for safe, legal access to medical cannabis ever

Alumni Chapter Leader for the University at Albany’s SSDP Chapter. She graduated from the UAlbany in Fall 2015 with her Bachelors in Psychology/Sociology. She will either be attending the University of Georgia or UAlbany in Fall 2016 to pursue her Masters in Social Work degree. She plans to concentrate in Substance Abuse as a counselor, and hopes to follow her dreams by getting involved with harm reduction and psychedelic-assisted therapy. She recently started her first dream job in her field working as a Behavioral Health Counselor at an In-patient substance abuse rehab. She is a certified yoga teacher, loves going on hikes, crafts, exercising, reading, knitting, cooking, and selling handmade soap!

Lex Pelger is the host of Psymposia. A

14

and the staggering benefits of medical use

advisor at the New Zealand Drug Foundation.

give petition starters the tools to turn their stories into movements and engage Change. org's more than 120 million users. Previously, Jon served as Associate Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

at Green Door Behavioral Health where he provides health education to clients to increase their understanding of behavioral and physical health conditions. He teaches skills that promote independence and recovery, including coping skills and symptom

Brett Phelps is a law student, beard

management skills, often promoting harm

enthusiast, and longtime drug policy reform

reduction techniques and facilitating access

advocate from Farmington, New Mexico.

to preventative and health promotion

As SSDP chapter leader at the University

services in the community. Garrett previously

of New Mexico School of Law, he works to

worked as the D.C. Campus Coordinator for

change drug laws at the local, state, and

Students for Sensible Drug Policy where

federal levels. Prior to law school Brett was

he collaborated with D.C. chapters in

an instructor at New Mexico Highlands

successfully fighting for the legalization of

University, where he taught English

marijuana in our nation’s capital.

composition. Brett holds an M.A. in English

Dan Riffle is a senior legislative assistant

from New Mexico Highlands University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the

in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, he spent six

years at the Marijuana Policy Project. As a

of Law after a career as a Foreign Service

leader and expert on medical cannabis

state lobbyist, Dan helped draft and pass

Officer. Postings in Budapest, Munich, and

patient advocacy and, alongside the

legislation in Illinois, Vermont, Maryland

Moscow before and after the fall of the

American Herbal Products Association

and Washington, D.C. Later, as a federal

Berlin Wall gave her a deep appreciation for

(AHPA), has created the first industry

lobbyist, he led the effort to pass the historic

the power of free speech. After law school,

standards in the areas of Distribution,

Rohrabacher-Farr amendment. Before joining

Catherine clerked on the Sixth Circuit

Cultivation, Analytics, and Manufacturing,

MPP, Dan practiced law as an assistant

Court of Appeals before starting work as

Packaging, and Labeling.

prosecutor in Ohio. He has also worked in

an associate at Steptoe & Johnson, LLC.

the Ohio Governor’s office, the Ohio EPA, and

After leaving Steptoe, Catherine joined the

In the 90’s, Kemba Smith Pradia went

Columbus Legal Aid Society, and founded

appellate group at the U.S. Trustees Program

a Southern California law firm that serves

at the Department of Justice and was

cannabis industry clients.

interim Executive Director for a non-profit

Emma Rodríguez Romero '10 is the

in Washington, D.C. that teaches chess to

founder of the first SSDP chapter in Mexico back in 2010. She graduated from the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico with a degree of public administration and political science. She is also a Member of Register of Young Researchers of the UNAM, has been

children. Catherine is an adjunct professor of appellate writing at George Mason School of Law. She lives outside of Washington D.C. with her husband and two children, one of whom graduated from a green light school.

She also raises African Pied Crows and is licensed to rehabilitate wild birds.

from college student to drug dealer’s girlfriend to domestic violence victim to federal prisoner. After enduring a 3.5 year turbulent relationship, Kemba was sentenced to 24.5 years in federal prison. Often labeled the “poster child” for reversing a disturbing trend in the rise of lengthy sentences for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders, Kemba’s story was featured on a variety of television shows and featured in several publications. The support prompted then President Clinton to commute her 24.5

a consultant for the report Observatory

Jeremy Sharp is a senior at the University

years sentence to time served–six and a half

youth rights Mexico City, and studious of

of North Georgia, where he is studying

years–in December, 2000. Kemba shares her

criminalization faced by young people due to

Political Science with a concentration in

traumatic real life experience in her newly

prohibition in Mexico.

pre-law. He has founded 2 SSDP chapters,

released book, “Poster Child: The Kemba

Abdullah Saeed is a writer and video

currently serves on SSDP's Board of

Smith Story.”

Directors, Board of Peachtree NORML and

Zara Snapp was born in Mexico, raised

producer at VICE, where he contributes a regular column called Weediquette that covers both the personal and the political when it comes to cannabis. He's explored marijuana and the media as both an investigative journalist and an entertainer and sees many opportunities for bright young people to enter the field.

Jerónimo Saldaña is the legislative and organizing coordinator for the movement building team at the Drug Policy Alliance, where he works to grow the movement to end the war on drugs. Prior to joining the Drug Policy Alliance, Saldaña worked as a political organizer for a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate advocating on behalf of working families and helping union members elect strong advocates to elected office. Jeronimo has also worked on environmental justice, civic engagement, and immigrant rights while serving as a program associate at the Open Society Foundations and New World Foundation. Saldaña is a native East L.A. Chicano with a B.A. in Chican/o studies from the University of California Santa Barbara.

Catherine Sevcenko is the Associate Director of Litigation for FIRE. She graduated magna cum laude from George Mason School

is a student Board member of Georgia Overdose Prevention. He was instrumental in lobbying for passage of GA HB 965 (GSP and Naloxone Access) which has saved 429 lives since April 24th 2001 in his home state of Georgia. Jeremy co-wrote “Student Synopsis On Current Peer Overdose Endemic” which was used in the House Judiciary NonCivil Committee hearings by the Georgia Legislators. Jeremy has been personally, negatively impacted by the Drug War. He hopes his life work will be to contribute to ending corrupt and inept policies. He reflects, “I hope my children do not have to live in an America where their rights are diluted and diminished by a system that operates on the presumption of serving justice.”

Steph Sherer is founder and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), Director of Innovations of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoid Institute (ICCI), and founding member of the International Medical Cannabis Patients Coalition (IMCPC).

ASA is the largest national memberbased organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Steph has become the foremost international

in the United States and currently lives in Mexico City. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Denver and a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she was a Truman Scholar and Public Service Fellow. Her work for the Kellogg Foundation, the National Democratic Institute, the Denver Tent City Initiative, Mi Casa Resource Center, and SSDP focused on issues of comprehensive sexuality education, housing and homelessness, judicial reform, global drug policy reform, and democracy and governance programs. Zara is part of the Secretariat of the Global Commission and the author of Dictionary of Drugs.

Zoe Steinsnyder is a sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a brother of the co-ed national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. She is from the Philadelphia area and a die-hard Flyers fan.

In her chapter, Zoe is the Service Coordinator Chair, meaning she organizes service events and reaches out to members of the community about SSDP and how it ties to helping others. Service is something Zoe deems extremely important and knows that

15

service can help not only the recipients of

Colorado college campuses.

Shaleen Title '02 is a co-founding partner

service but also to those who serve.

Elise Szabo is the SSDP Chapter Leader at

of THC Staffing Group, an inclusion-focused

Kim Stiens is an operations and human

Kent State University in Ohio. Elise first caught

resources professional currently working at Vox

wind of SSDP through MAPS while writing a

Media with a passion for improving the human

research paper on the benefits of hallucinogens

experience at work. Previously, she worked in

in psychotherapy for a high school English

non-profits, including The Management Center

class, and she got involved as an SSDP member

and the Marijuana Policy Project, where she

during her first year at Kent State. She enjoys

assisted with the hiring process while doing

organizing annual Know Your Rights events,

resume reviews on the side. She’s been told

promoting honest drug education, and

more than once that her cover letters were

spreading awareness of Kent's 911 Good

among the best the hiring manager has ever

Samaritan Policy. This year, Elise is excited to be

read, and is always happy to give cover letter

collaborating with other Ohio chapters to lobby

tips, review a resume, or help connect people

for statewide medical amnesty, and her chapter

with each other. Kim graduated in 2008 from

is working with Ohioans for Medical Marijuana

The College of Idaho.

and the Marijuana Policy Project in an effort

Marijuana Majority.

For over a decade Katie Stone has been

to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio. Elise is

Sanho Tree is a Fellow at the Institute for

studying Philosophy and aspires to work in the

Policy Studies and has been director of its

drug policy reform movement after graduation.

Drug Policy Project since 1998. The project

advocacy. She is the current Director of

Maia Szalavitz is the author of Unbroken

has worked on many aspects of international

Alumni Relations with SSDP at UC Davis

Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of

where she graduated with a BS in Community

Understanding Addiction, which is published

Development in 2015. After completing field

by St. Martin’s Press this month. She is a

research in Cambodia for her Honors thesis,

neuroscience journalist who has covered

Katie realized the intersections of drug policy

addiction and drug policy for nearly 30 years,

reform, human rights, and environmental

for publications ranging from TIME and the New

justice. This lead her to the MA program in

York Times to High Times and VICE. She’s author

Transformative Leadership at CIIS in San

or co-author of seven books, including Help At

Francisco where her research is focused on

Any Cost, the first book to expose the "tough

psychedelic studies and ecopsychology. She

love" industry and the harm it does to youth

is currently an intern at Drug Policy Alliance

and families.

political messaging. He has been featured in

in Oakland, where she is assisting with a

J. Miakoda​​​Taylor has spent her life serving

in hundreds of print and broadcast interviews.

working to end the War on Drugs through grassroots organizing and social justice

qualitative study on social responsibility in the cannabis industry. In her spare time, she is co-founding a public benefit corporation that drives social change through cannabis funding.

16

as a bridge builder across dis-membered sectors of society, dedicated to supporting individuals and organizations to leverage adversity towards resilience, power and

Drew Stromberg '09 is SSDP's Program

freedom. She developed much of the

Director. He oversees Outreach Coordinators

Fierce Allies practices through her work

and the Campus Coordinator program. Drew

teaching emotional and social intelligence

got involved in Students for Sensible Drug Policy

to incarcerated populations. She is a public

in 2009 when he founded the chapter at West

speaker, coach, trainer, facilitator, mediator

Virginia University. Drew presided over the

and strategy consultant, with over two

WVU chapter from 2009 to 2011 and interned

decades of experience as an executive and

at the national office in Washington, D.C. in the

consultant facilitating leadership development,

summer of 2010. For Colorado’s Amendment 64

sustainable organizational change, and conflict

campaign, Drew built a specialized phone bank

resolution with organizations locally, nationally

tool which students and activists from across

and internationally. An avid meditator, yogi,

the country used to make more than 18,000

dancer and photographer, Miakoda has been

phone calls to Colorado voters in support of

awarded several fellowships to conduct photo-

Amendment 64. Additionally, Drew helped

ethnographic studies of diverse cultures. Her

coordinate and oversee the on-the-ground

work has been exhibited her work throughout

student-oriented GOTV effort in the final days

the world, most notably at the Metropolitan

of the campaign, where volunteers engaged

Museum of Art and as part of the United

with more than 10,000 student voters on six

Nations World Conference Against Racism.

marijuana industry recruiting firm. As an attorney specializing in marijuana regulations, she has helped draft state cannabis laws with the Marijuana Policy Project and provides regulatory expertise for leading consulting firm 4Front Advisors. Shaleen has won several awards for her advocacy work and her efforts to bring more women and people of color into drug policy reform, including the Hunter S. Thompson Young Attorney Award and the High Times Freedom Fighter Award. She is an SSDP Trustee and a founding board member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and

drug policy over the years including source country eradication, interdiction, alternative development, harm reduction, and diplomacy.

The project also works on domestic policy with a focus on tax and regulate models of cannabis control. Most importantly, the project develops new mechanisms to bypass the political paralysis that normally prevents a genuine debate about reform. Tree's other interests include culture wars, third-rail politics, and over a dozen documentaries and has appeared

Sarah Trumble is the Senior Policy Counsel for Social Policy & Politics at Third Way, a center-left think tank in Washington, D.C. There she specializes in reaching moderates on the full range of social issues—from abortion, immigration, and marijuana to guns, gay equality, religious liberty, and mobility. In her role, she serves as the expert on the nittygritty of social policy legislation, messaging, and politics, and she is an authority on the values and perspectives of Americans in the middle when it comes to the most contentious social issues. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, POLITICO, Media Matters, and Voice of America. She holds a B.A. in global studies and a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a joint J.D./M.P.P. from the George Washington University.

8

Kenneth W. Tupper is an Adjunct Professor

as Cultural attaché of the US Embassy in France,

Tyler Williams ’11 is SSDP's Outreach

in the School of Population and Public Health

Israeli ambassador to Paris, France’s TF1 lead

Coordinator for the Heartland, Midwest, and

at the University of British Columbia, where

news anchor, Director General for Democracy

Mountain regions. Tyler started his involvement

his research interests include: psychedelic

in the Council of Europe, and more. Sara has

with SSDP as a freshman at the University of

studies; the cross-cultural and historical uses of

also been awarded certificates and diplomas for

Connecticut. During his time, Tyler successfully

psychoactive substances; public, professional

attending trainings in libertarian theory, human

lobbied the University of Connecticut

and school-based drug education; and creating

rights, non-violent communication, grass-roots

Undergraduate Student Government to pass

healthy public policy to maximize benefits and

activism and student organizing, given by many

a statement of position in support of ending

minimize harms from currently illegal drugs.

prestigious institutions such as Libek, Center for

marijuana prohibition. He has served as editor-

Kenneth’s Ph.D. dissertation (and earlier M.A.

Peace Studies in Croatia, the U.S. Department of

in-chief for the UConn Free Press, worked at the

thesis) in Education developed the concept of

State, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

campus radio station, 91.7FM WHUS as a music

“entheogenic education,” a theoretical frame

and the World Affairs Council.

DJ and producer of UConn SSDP Radio. He now

for understanding how psychedelic plants and

Gather ’round now children, I’ll tell you a tale. A

produces This Week in Drugs, a podcast about

substances—in particular the Amazonian brew

story as old as the rustiest nail. It all begins in

all things drug policy.

a place called Ohi-a. Afternoon hotter than the

Rachel Beth Wissner is Co-President of

swampiest bayou. Doctors said Chris Wallis

the SUNY New Paltz chapter of SSDP. She is

Lyn Ulbricht is the mother of Ross Ulbricht,

'07 didn’t scream too much. Momma said the

a regular contributor to the Monthly Mosaic,

creator of the Silk Road website. Ross, a

newborn barely fussed. But sho nuff as soon as

the SSDP Diversity Awareness Reflection and

peaceful libertarian and first time offender,

he got home, little Chris raised up his fist and

Education (DARE) committee’s newsletter.

received a double life sentence without parole

said “Let it be known – I’m not here to piss and

Rachel interns for Family Law and Cannabis

for all non-violent charges. Ross has recently

I’m not here to moan, but I’ll raise hell with a

Alliance, a clearinghouse for local, state, and

appealed this sentence, as well as pre-trial

microphone.” And sho nuff he did, through his

national information related to marijuana

and trial violations. Since Ross’s arrest Lyn has

school days and more. Chris still hasn’t stopped

policy, Child Protective Services, and family

worked to bring awareness to his case and how

opposing stupid wars. Now his camera is the

court. As chapter leader at New Paltz, she led

it threatens our freedoms in the digital age. She

tool he uses most. And he ain't gunna stop 'til

the campaign to equalize the campus alcohol

also works to raise money to fund his appeal

the drug war is toast.

and marijuana policy, and she is currently

through www.freeross.org.

Jane West is a non-stop entrepreneur

working on the statewide campaign to end

Lauren Vazquez is the Fired Up Lawyer.

committed to changing the face of women in

She also created the nation's first and only pro

cannabis–both as consumers and as leaders.

applicants with previous criminal convictions.

bono legal clinic for medical cannabis patients

The name Jane West is synonymous with legal

Cassie Young is the president of SSDP at Ohio

at SPARC collective in San Francisco. She has

cannabis. As Founder of Women Grow, the

State University. Her chapter hosted forums

worked for over a decade to end cannabis

largest professional network in the cannabis

for competing Ohio legalization ballot initiatives

prohibition and advance alternatives to the

industry, Jane is a thought leader and vocal

and she has worked with two campaigns within

failed war on drugs. In 2011, she launched her

personality in the nucleus of the national

the past year. She does policy and manages a

law practice providing advice and legal services

cannabis network. Her magnetic personality

behavioral economics grant for a child support

to advocacy groups, collectives, cooperatives,

and passion for the cause make her a sought

agency and will be graduating in spring 2016

vendors, and cultivators. Lauren is also on the

after speaker and advisor. A proud, daily

with master's degrees in social work and public

faculty of Oaksterdam University and previously

cannabis user, Jane is changing perceptions

policy and management. She has focused her

served as the National Deputy Director of

swiftly by providing insider access to the legal

research on drug policy and criminal justice

Communications for the Marijuana Policy

lifestyle.

reform, and being a staunch intersectionalist,

Project.

Aurora Wetherill '14 is an SSDP alumni

she believes we must critically examine the

Sara Velimirovic is SSDP's UNGASS

from Dickinson College, where she served as

Coordinator Intern, currently studying in Paris

a chapter leader during the 2014-2015 school

in a Master program of International Security at

year. Under her leadership, the SSDP chapter

Paris School of International Affairs. Originally

was successful in passing and enacting a Good

Movement.

from Serbia, she worked as a youth group

Samaritan Policy, overcoming many obstacles

Oliver Zerrudo is a 5th year Bay Area student

coordinator for the Helsinki Committee for

with the campus administration to make it

at the University of California, Berkeley. Originally

Human Rights in Serbia for two years, where

happen. She also organized her chapter's

from the Phillipines, Oliver has been raised in

she was in charge of various projects aimed

participation in a lobby day in support of

San Francisco to care about social justice and

at promoting peace and reconciliation among

medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Outside of

People of Color politics. Oliver likes eggnog,

her peers. Sara was also the co-director of

fighting the drug war and the patriarchy, her

zombie movies, and politics. He aspires to

a student organization called Distinguished

interests include dancing, camping, and keeping

complete his thesis on time, and graduate with

Lecture Series, which hosted conferences by

it wierd.

greater sense of what to do for money with an

ayahuasca—can function as cognitive tools for learning.

established professionals and academics such

SUNY schools’ discrimination against college

“anything over prohibition” philosophy in order to promote rights, public health and safety, social justice, and ultimately, to preserve the

Ethnic Studies degree.

17

MAPS

Possession of Illicit Substances

Need help?

Virginia’s laws are excellent examples of laws in desperate

SSDP Rangers ensure the safety and security of the SSDP

need of changing by SSDP members and allies. For example,

community every night and are available to assist with concerns

possession of any amount of marijuana could result in a

or contact SSDP staff as needed. SSDP’s Emergency Hotline will

misdemeanor, 30 days in jail, and a $500 fine. Be sensible.

connect you with a member of SSDP’s staff 24/7. Dial 202-3935280, ext 9 to be connected to a staff member.

18

A

B

C

A

Registration

B

Exhibitors

C

Exhibitors, SSDP t-shirt sales, book sales, CAT points entering station, headshots (Saturday 1:15-3:15pm)

Local Recovery Group Meetings SMART Recovery Meetings Saturday

8:30 - 10:00 am and 10:00 -

11:30 am Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church 1 Chevy Chase Circle, N.W. Washington, DC 20015

Alcoholics Anonymous DuPont Circle Club - 1623 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays

8:30pm

Download the conference app to view sessions, speakers, and events at ssdp.org/ssdp2016/app

Patrick Truman (301) 412-2144 Tony Laurel (571) 249-5911

19

CONGR ATUL ATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S SSDP AWARD NOMINEES! Change Beyond Campus

Outstanding Alumnus (in service to

Outstanding Student Organizer

Bowling Green State University California State University Long Beach Irish SSDP chapters Ohio State University University of California Davis University of New Mexico School of Law University of Tennessee Knoxville

SSDP) Michael Blunk Kat Humphries Kat Murti Dr. Vilmarie Narloch A. Kathryn Parker Julie Roberts Sam Tracy Chris Wallis Rachelle Yeung

Miranda Gottlieb Elizabeth Henneman Cameron Price Farrah Pruskauer Emma Guadalupe Rodriguez Romero

Dave Borden Friend of SSDP Marijuana Policy Project Marijuana Today Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Students for Liberty This Week in Drugs Women Grow

Morgan Lesko Online Activism Arizona State University Penelope Hill Sarah Merrigan University of Connecticut

Outstanding Alumnus (in service to drug policy reform) Graham de Barra Mikayla Hellwich Mike Liszewski Evan Nison Thom Silverstein Shaleen Title

Outstanding Chapter (2 winners will be selected) College of Charleston Dickinson College Florida Gulf Coast University

Sarah Saucedo

Rising Star Chapter Colorado School of Mines Guilford College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rocky Mountain College Salem College University of California Berkeley University of California Santa Cruz Yale University

Northwestern University Ohio State University

Rising Star Activist

Reed College

Gunnar Aas Moronfolu Adeniyi Matthew Aragon Sarah Diem Richard Hartnell Penelope Hill Brian Messina

SUNY Albany SUNY New Paltz Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico University of California Davis University of Connecticut University of New Mexico Law School University of Tennessee Knoxville University of Texas Austin

Outstanding Student Activist Maryanne Alderson Sarah Diem Miranda Gottlieb Dan Kirby Sarah Merrigan Sara Velimirovic Cassie Young

Scott & Cyan Banister Campus Change College of Charleston Dickinson College George Washington University Salem College University of California Santa Barbara University of Tennessee Knoxville

Stuart Ableson Goodwill Bergstrom Foundation Berkeley Patients Group René and Susan Ruiz Marijuana Business Daily Verdes Foundation

Aditionally, there will be a few awards presented for which nominees will not be announced. Those include: •

Fundraising Award

•

Lifetime Achievement Award

•

Unsung Hero Award

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J O I N T H E 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 C L A S S AT STUDENTSFORLIBERTY.ORG/CC

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