Start making senseâ„¢ #SSDP2017: STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY CONFERENCE
SPONSORS
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY The Arcview Group
Olga Jabbour
Recreator
Cannabis Buyers Club of Berkeley
Keef Cola
Side Pocket Images
Kevin Herbert
Law Offices of James Anthony
SSDP Staff
Illegally Healed
Medical Marijuana 411
SSDP Board of Trustees
SSDP Board of Directors
SCHEDULE At-A-Glance Welcome to #SSDP2017, the Students for Sensible Drug Policy International Conference! This year, we gather in Portland, Oregon, where cannabis laws are largely sensible and, like nearby Seattle and Vancouver, the promise of safe consumption facilities seems within reach. We chose Portland because this region represents the future SSDPers are building together.
FRIDAY: 03.24.2017
SUNDAY: 03.26.2017
5:00pm – 8:00pm Registration
9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibitor Hall Open
6:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome reception with light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar 8:00pm – 10:00pm Congress I (students only) 8:00pm – 10:00pm Alumni gathering
SATURDAY: 03.25.2017 9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibitor Hall Open 9:00am – 9:30am Breakfast
Student and alumni members from at least 13 countries and 28 states are represented here. We live and advocate in communities with drug policies which are tremendously punitive and those which we hold up as exemplary. We face unique cultural or political barriers regardless of our origins, but we’re bound together by our shared belief that drug policies must be rooted in evidence, compassion, justice, and human rights.
9:30am – 10:15am Keynote: Awesome Electeds! Advancing drug policy reform from elected office 10:30am – 11:30am Breakout Sessions (4)
9:00am – 9:30am Breakfast with Eric Sterling, SSDP's Fairy Godfather 9:30am – 10:15am Plenary: Inspiration from the Home of Harm Reduction 10:30am – 11:30am Breakout Sessions (4) •
Expungements, Sealing, and Clemency: Learning the options for clearing up criminal records
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The War on Families: Who else is the drug war hurting?
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Contemporary Campus Harm Reduction
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Drug Policy Reform in the Global South: Options, new approaches, and experiences
11:45am – 12:45pm Breakout Sessions (5) •
West African Perspectives on Drug Use and Policy
We’re All In This Together: Bridging political divides & ending the war on drugs
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Beyond Legalization: Ensuring sensible marijuana policy
Mechanisms of Psychedelic Psychotherapy
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A New Look into Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
Online Organizing in the Surveillance Age - Presented by Electronic Frontier Foundation
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Going Global: Becoming an effective advocate for international issues
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Legal Observer Training - Hosted by the National Lawyers Guild
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SSDPers on the Front Lines: When empathy becomes activism
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11:45am – 12:45pm Breakout Sessions (4)
We do this work knowing that we may not agree on much beyond drug policy, but that the turbulent politics of our time require us to be steadfast in our commitment to our shared values and celebrate our differences because they make us stronger. You’ll find that this year’s program, developed by student and alumni members, reflects this challenge -- and opportunity. We will also engage in classic skills training in community organizing, direct service and action, policy change, and education. We will celebrate our accomplishments and our rockstars, meet new friends, and prepare ourselves to return to our work Monday with a renewed sense of what brought us here. Thank you for joining us to create and participate in this transformative experience. Sensibly, Betty, Stacia and the SSDP Team
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Activist Self-Care Workshop
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Rural Landscapes in Drug Policy Reform
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A Feminist Critique of the Drug War
1:00pm – 2:30pm Lunch + Networking
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Staying Woke: Ally-ship, racial politics, and collateral consequences of the drug war
2:45pm – 3:45pm Breakout sessions (5) •
“I'm Done with School. Now What?” Staying Involved After College
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Psychedelic Harm Reduction
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Eradicating the Compound Stigmatization of the LGBTQ Community and Drug Use
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Creating a Culture of "Test Before You Ingest"
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Tools for Change: Using strategic litigation for drug policy reform
1:00pm – 2:30pm Lunch + Congress II 2:45pm – 3:45pm Breakout sessions (5) •
Abstinence, Recovery, Stigma, and the Drug Policy Reform Movement
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Developing a Global Youth Coalition around Drug Policy for 2019
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Taking Action on State and Local Campaigns
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SSDP Just Say Know Peer Education Training
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Developing a Global Youth Coalition around Drug Policy for 2019
4:00pm – 5:00pm Breakout sessions (4) •
Fundraising for Change
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Sex and Drug (Policies) are Great Together: Building critical alliances between sex worker and drug user activists
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The Future of Psychedelic Law & Policy: Past, present, and beyond
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The Globalized Environmental Impacts of Drug Prohibition
5:15pm – 5:45pm Plenary: Lived Experiences: Stories from the other side of the War on Drugs
4:00pm – 5:00pm Breakout sessions (4) •
The Stigma Surrounding People Who Inject Drugs
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They Said What?? Crafting The Right Message for Your Audience
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The Activists' Toolkit: How to make direct actions count
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Drugs & Indigenous Cultures: An anthropological history
5:15pm – 5:45pm DARE Keynote: When Dehumanization and Scapegoating Turns Deadly: President Duterte and the drug war in the Philippines 5:45pm – 6:15pm Closing Ceremonies
8:00pm – 9:00pm Awards ceremony doors open + cash bar 8:30pm – 9:30pm Awards ceremony 9:30pm – 1:00am Live music featuring The Wets and The Resinators, dance party, cash bar
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DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA
Education Manager Vilmarie Narloch will also
Beyond Legalization: Ensuring sensible marijuana policy
briefly share more about the evolution of the
Sonia Espinosa, Jesce Horton, Kamani
Welcome Reception
program into the 2nd edition as a result of
Jefferson, David McNicoll, Sam Tracy
East Salon Meet and greet reception for all attendees.
SSDPer feedback.
Multnomah
FRIDAY: 03.24.2017 u
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6:00P - 8:00P
7:00P - 7:30P
discuss your thoughts on the program. Drug
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9:30A - 10:15A
Opening Remarks
Awesome Electeds! Advancing Drug Policy Reform from Elected Office
East Salon
Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Welcome to Portland! SSDP staff and alumni
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum
will help you make the most of #SSDP2017,
East Salon
and SSDP founding advisor Adam Smith will
Oregon's US Representative Earl Blumenauer
orient you to our host city.
and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum are
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8:00P - 10:00P
trailblazers for cannabis and drug policy
Proper regulations are vital to a successful legal cannabis policy. This panel, featuring leaders of organizations working to improve adult use cannabis legislation, will explore pitfalls and opportunities of existing regulations -- including barriers to participation in regulated markets -- and how you and your chapter can play a role in influencing sensible marijuana policy.
the will of Oregon voters and taking sensible
A New Look into Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
approaches to drug policy. We'll discuss how
Zane Bader, Alexander Betsos, Nazlee
they're ensuring Oregon's ability to regulate
Maghsoudi, Logan Tibbetts
cannabis through legal markets, why they fight
Clackamas
inequity in the War of Drugs, and how you can
In the last 10 years, use of research chemicals,
followed by a question and answer session in
bolster their efforts at home.
otherwise known as novel psychoactive
which students and current board members
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SSDP Student Congress - Part I East Salon During SSDP Congress: Part I, attendees will be introduced to the student candidates running to serve on SSDP’s Board of Directors. The candidates will deliver brief speeches,
will pose questions regarding the candidates’ qualifications to serve on the Board. All students are strongly encouraged to attend this Congress session and get to know the candidates, as students in active SSDP chapters will be voting on their top choices for Board members the following day.
Alumni Dinner Jantzen Beach Bar and Grill SSDP Alumni conference attendees are
reforms, leading their peers in defending
10:30A - 11:30A
SSDPers on the Front Lines: When empathy becomes activism Irina Alexander, Vilmarie Narloch, Jason Ortiz Crown Zellerbach SSDP alumni will discuss their experiences as direct service providers in the fields of mental health, substance use treatment, harm reduction, education, and other human services for individuals and communities impacted by the War on Drugs and other
substances (NPS), has been on the rise globally. There is limited information about the safety of NPS in terms of clinical trials, yet their popularity as substitutes for more traditional illicit drugs is growing. This session will focus on the phenomenon of NPS rather than on individual substances. Panelists will discuss how NPS may work in the brain, the culture of online NPS purchasers, how NPS legislation is occurring abroad, and what possibilities NPS offers for drug policy advocates.
11:45P - 12:45P
related policies. Learn how you can
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incorporate your SSDP activism into your
A Feminist Critique of the Drug War
daily work life while serving populations most
Emory Basso, Sarah Merrigan, Shayla
beverages at the hotel restaurant. You won't
marginalized by the policies we fight.
Schlossenberg, Rachelle Yeung
want to miss this warm, intergenerational
West African Perspectives on Drug Use and Policy
invited to celebrate SSDP's 19 years cultivating outstanding leaders and changemakers. You are welcome to purchase your own food and
gathering of friends!
SATURDAY: 03.25.2017 u
9:00A - 9:30A
Breakfast East Salon
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9:00A - 9:30A
Juana Boateng, Blessing Davids, Stephen Oguntoyinbo Weyerhaeuser West Africa has become a hub for drug trafficking, and drug misuse among the region's youth populations has risen as a result. The West Africa Commission on Drugs,
Crown Zellerbach Explore the intersection between feminism and the movement to end the War on Drugs through the question of bodily autonomy and the manner in which a person’s ability to make choices affecting their own body is limited both by gender-based regulations (ie. pregnancy, sex work, etc.) and by drug prohibition. Discussion will examine the unique role women and gender-variant
SSDP Peer Educator Meetup
in a report released in June 2014, developed a
Weyerhaeuser
set of evidence-based recommendations that
Just Say Know Peer Educators -- and those
call for West African States to treat drug use
interested in becoming one -- are encouraged
as a public health issue, invest in evidence-
to grab your breakfast in the ballroom and
based health services, and reform existing
Rural Landscapes in Drug Policy Reform
join us in Weyerhaeuser to meet each other,
laws on drugs. This panel will give insight into
Sam Chapman, Samantha Melius, Katie Stone,
talk about what it's been like to go through the
drug policy in Ghana and Nigeria and discuss
Beau Whitney
training, discuss what Peer Education activities
ending the War on Drugs in the region.
Weyerhaeuser
you have done or plan to do, and otherwise
individuals play in both the illicit drug market and the drug policy reform movement.
The landscape of the rural US, heavily
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dependent upon industries like agriculture,
choices to elect new Student Directors who
preparing students to become campaign
is often overlooked by politicians and aid
will serve a two-year term on SSDP’s Board of
leaders. Learn from experienced grassroots
organizations. While rural communities
Directors. Chapters attending the conference
organizers and bring concrete skills to
consistently exhibit higher rates of poverty
must be present at this Congress session in
your work that will help you maximize your
and drug use than their urban counterparts,
order to vote. Active chapters will also have
chapter’s impact in future reforms.
access to counseling, harm reduction services,
the opportunity to propose nonbinding
and treatment programs lag and those under
resolutions to influence the direction of the
30 are hit the hardest. Where does sensible
organization, if adopted by the student body.
drug policy reform fit among the social risk
Non-student attendees are invited to quietly
factors fueling “rural flight,” poverty, and the
observe Congress or pick up a box lunch and
opioid epidemic? Gain insights into how your
find a place to eat nearby.
chapter can more effectively bridge drug policy with agricultural policy and build lasting
2:45P - 3:45P
Jake Agliata, Scott Bernstein, Nick Kent, Marisa Morales Loyola Clackamas While last year's UNGASS showed that the global consensus on drugs is unraveling, there
relationships with rural communities.
Abstinence, Recovery, Stigma, and the Drug Policy Reform Movement
is still much work to be done at and through
Activist Self-Care Workshop
Lauren Gabrielle, Kat Humphries, Jerry Otero,
global drug war. Young people need to be
Irina Alexander, Rob Hofmann, Vilmarie
Nick Rosenberg, Logan Tibbetts
at the forefront of the movement to reform
Narloch, Rachel Wissner
Crown Zellerbach
punitive drug laws, especially at the UN where
Multnomah
Is there room for people in recovery in the
our voices are often absent. This panel will
As activists, we tend to put our work and the
drug policy reform movement? How do
take a look ahead to the next big UN review of
needs of others first. But what about working
we advocate for drug policy reform while
the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on
on ourselves and meeting our own needs?
also making room for individuals who have
drugs in 2019 and how young people can start
Self care is essential for health, wellness,
experienced negative consequences with
organizing themselves now to build a global
and professional success: if changemakers
drugs as "soft" as marijuana? How do we tackle
youth coalition for change.
are not taking care of themselves, it is hard
the stigmatization of people who use other
to fully achieve their goals. Learn strategies
drugs, whether "hard" drugs like heroin and
for activists in coping with stress; managing
meth, or even pharmaceuticals?
interpersonal relationships; health and
the United Nations if we are going to end the
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4:00P - 5:00P
Fundraising for Change Mikayla Hellwich, Andrew Hood, Kat Murti,
SSDP Just Say Know Peer Education Training
Lauren Padgett
Vilmarie Narloch
Money talks, baby. Real world policy change
Weyerhaeuser
takes some big bucks to make happen, and
Just Say Know, SSDP’s peer-to-peer drug
even the scrappiest grassroots activists still
Staying Woke: Allyship, racial politics, and the collateral consequences of the drug war
education program, empowers SSDPers to
have to eat. In this hands-on training, you
deliver qualified drug education on their
will learn how to raise money for the cause,
campuses and in their communities through
why it’s so important, and how you can build
Queen Adesuyi, Scott Cecil, Jake Plowden
foundational education in program delivery
an amazing career using the skills you learn
Clackamas
and community support and dozens of drug-
fundraising for SSDP.
While the most visible consequences of
specific modules. In this session, Vilmarie will
the War on Drugs become more urgent
present the first SSDP Just Say Know training
for our allies, the connections between
lesson. This session will allow those who
those issues and the drug policies which
have not yet started the training to complete
foster them become less apparent. Join us
a lesson while at the conference, and be on
for a conversation about how drug policy
their way to becoming an SSDP Certified
reformers can "stay woke" in the current
Peer Educator! Learn more at ssdp.org/
political era including racial, economic,
justsayknow.
wellness, especially regarding drug use and harm reduction; time management; realizing our strengths; and working with our weaknesses.
gender, and political privilege in allyship and
Crown Zellerbach
Sex and Drug (Policies) are Great Together: Building critical alliances between sex worker and drug user activists Joe Caldwell, Shayla Schlossenberg Weyerhaeuser This session will outline the similarities between the social-political response to
Taking Action on State and Local Campaigns
drug use and sex work and public health
Sam Chapman, Nikki Fisher, Anthony Johnson,
use drugs that can also be leveraged for
Emmett Reistroffer
people in the sex trade. Time will also be spent
Multnomah
discussing potential partnerships between
Discuss the role that SSDP students and
sex worker and drug user rights activists,
Lunch + SSDP Student Congress II
chapters can have on state and local
and creating action steps that participants
East Salon
campaigns, including mobilizing students in
can take back to their jurisdictions. Good
During SSDP Congress: Part II, students
support of sensible drug policy initiatives,
Samaritan protections, pre-booking diversion
in active chapters will vote on their top six
registering voters, planning events, and
programs, and HIV/STD testing and services
a critique of the argument that radical, racial politics are too divisive to help advance our mission to dismantle the drug war and mass incarceration.
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Developing a Global Youth Coalition around Drug Policy for 2019
1:00P - 2:30P
pathways that have emerged for people who
will be highlighted as areas for potential
Katie Stone, Rachel Wissner
questions about becoming and being a joyous
collaboration.
East Salon
advocate for justice, public health, liberty,
Creating sensible drug policy is most effective
peace and love.
The Future of Psychedelic Law & Policy: Past, present, and beyond Ismail Ali, Scott Bernstein, Natalie Ginsberg, Alex Kreit Multnomah Psychedelic research and therapy are re-emerging at the forefront of global consciousness in a way that they never have before, and discussions about the law
when we listen to the communities that are directly impacted by policy. This plenary brings together students and alumni of SSDP who have been personally affected by the War on Drugs to talk about their experiences, and how the movement can advocate with and for them in a way that puts people with lived experience first!
6:00P - 7:30P
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9:30P - 10:15P
Plenary: Inspiration from the Home of Harm Reduction Betty Aldworth, Kris Nyrop, Patricia Sully, Haven Wheelock East Salon The Pacific Northwest has long pioneered harm reduction approaches to drug policies.
and policy of psychedelic consciousness
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in a post-prohibition world are more
Diversity Awareness Reflection and Education (DARE) Meet-Up
programs in the US to Law Enforcement
relevant and urgent than ever. In this session, panelists will provide a history of
Jantzen Beach Bar and Grill
Washington have advanced policy reforms
psychedelic criminalization and a review of
Let’s talk intersectionality & drug policy! What
that save lives and change attitudes in their
how psychedelic advocates have previously
does diversity mean in the SSDP network
communities. Hear from local pioneers about
and are currently engaging with law, policy,
and the larger drug policy reform movement?
the benefits and challenges of legalizing harm
and politics. This conversation also hopes
What resources are available for your chapter
reduction protections for drug users, their
to identify and illuminate gaps, challenges,
— and what do you wish were available? What
experiences initiating and implementing
and opportunities for engagement in the
issues do you see in your own organizing —
policy changes, and what's next in the home
creation of a new psychedelic paradigm while
and what’s working really well? What do you
of harm reduction.
articulating an inclusive, just, and collective
wish SSDP were doing that we’re not? Come
vision for such a structure.
meet the Diversity Awareness Reflection
The Globalized Environmental Impacts of Drug Prohibition Jesce Horton, Katie Stone, Sanho Tree, Chris Van Hook, David Wrathall
Education Committee (SSDP DARE), learn what we’re doing to bring more diverse voices to SSDP, and tell us what concerns you the most. This will be a casual discussion.
8:00P - 1:00A
From the first legal syringe exchange Assisted Diversion, advocates in Oregon and
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10:30A - 11:30A
Expungements, Sealing and Clemency: Learning the options for clearing up criminal records Edgar Diaz, Lauren Mendelsohn, Joseph Petitt, Eric Sterling
Clackamas
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The reality of climate change is upon us, with
Awards Ceremony + Group Photo + Dance Party
This session, led by law students, attorneys
droughts and huge storms ravaging much of the US and the world. In California alone,
East Salon
all, will discuss the options for cleaning up
illegal cannabis grow sites are responsible
Join us in the ballroom for the SSDP Awards
criminal records, which varies from state to
for an estimated 3-4 wildfires every year,
Ceremony from 8:30-9:30, where we’ll
state. The panel will go over the terminology,
drain watersheds, and threaten sensitive
recognize members of the SSDP network
process, and consequences of what's
ecosystems and endangered species. In
for their outstanding work. Mark your place
commonly referred to as "expungement,"
the legal market, other issues arise: energy
in SSDP history in our all-conference group
and will also cover grants of clemency and
use, waste management, and supply chain
photo, then sing along and dance to an
pardons. Topics will include ORS 137.225, CA
issues abound. Eradication in Latin America,
evening of celebration with a dance party and
Prop. 47, CA Prop. 64, and more. Finally, this
Africa, and the Middle East are responsible
live music. The Wets, the SSDP alumni band,
session will touch on ways that your SSDP
for environmental destruction and pollution.
will perform high energy covers of songs from
chapter can help by volunteering at a local
The problem is pervasive, as virtually every
the 60's through today. Then local reggae
record clearing clinic or educating others
drug in existence, even legal ones, have
rock band The Resinators, will round out the
about the process.
major environmental impacts (alcohol, coffee,
evening with their original jams. A cash bar
and tobacco being major culprits). Come
will be available for those 21 and older.
hear from experts working to illuminate and remedy these impacts, and learn what you can do to help.
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5:15P - 5:45P
Plenary: Lived Experiences: Stories from the other side of the war on drugs Betty Aldworth, Kevin Garcia, Kat Humphries,
SUNDAY: 03.26.2017 u
9:00A - 9:30A
Breakfast with Eric Sterling, SSDP’s Fairy Godfather Eric E. Sterling East Salon Join SSDP's "fairy godfather" Eric Sterling in the ballroom for breakfast to pose your
Crown Zellerbach and alumni in the SSDP network but open to
The War on Families: Who else is the drug war hurting? Rebecca Dayan, Ashley Dorety, Amber Kahn, Heather Rowlett, Rachel Wissner Weyerhaeuser The family unit is often regarded as the most important social unit of society; thus, the drug war has been waged in the name of protecting families. Yet drug war policies have done exactly the opposite: families are torn apart by mass incarceration
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and pregnant people who use drugs are
SSDP grew up with the internet: We began on
and other intractable problems. What are the
increasingly criminalized. This panel discussion
a message board in 1998 and now we organize
protocols used in this research or therapy?
will explore the ways the drug war impacts
online around the world. In a time of increased
What could the mechanisms for success be,
families, parents, and pregnant people.
citizen surveillance, what are your rights as a
from the biochemical to the cognitive level?
Topics will include reproductive justice,
student organizer and how are colleges and
What would answers to these questions mean
"fetal assault" and "chemical endangerment
universities responding to online movement
scientifically and politically?
laws," mass incarceration, CPS, family court,
building? How can you push back against
custody issues, immigrant rights, and the
censorship and deal with trolls and doxxing?
representation of family issues in the War on
Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation, FIRE,
Drugs.
and SSDP for an in-depth discussion on how to
Contemporary Campus Harm Reduction
Alex Meggitt, Ashlyn Ruga Pendelton Want to help hold the police accountable? At this training session, led by attorneys from
Zane Bader, Brooke Elliot, Hunter Knight,
Going Global: Becoming an effective advocate for international issues
Vilmarie Narloch, Emma Spector
Wiqas Ahmad, Inge Fryklund, Sarah Merrigan,
how to keep law enforcement in check during
Multnomah
Shayla Schlossenberg, Sanho Tree
protests and demonstrations by watching
This panel discusses the range of harm
Weyerhaeuser
for and documenting police interference or
reduction practices in use on campuses
The War on Drugs is a global humanitarian
misconduct. The presence of Legal Observers
today by SSDP chapters as well as methods
crisis that has spread beyond borders, and it
at a protest can serve as a deterrent against
of working with your administration to
is crucial that we support the work of fellow
improper actions by law enforcement,
implement them. “Harm reduction” describes
advocates in countries with particularly harsh
and their notes can be used in litigation if
a set of values that prioritize the health and
drug laws such as the Philippines. This panel
needed. Legal Observers are typically, but
safety of individuals who use drugs and also
will discuss some of the ways SSDP members
not exclusively, law students, legal workers
the practices used to help make those ideals
can bring a global perspective to their
and lawyers who may or may not be licensed
a practical reality. This panel discusses the
chapters and cite specific examples of global
locally.
range of harm reduction practices in use
allyship.
on campuses today, as well as methods
the National Lawyer's Guild (NLG), you'll learn
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1:00P - 2:30P
We’re All In This Together: Bridging political divides & ending the War on Drugs
Lunch + Networking
Drug Policy Reform in the Global South: Options, new approaches, and experiences
Betty Aldworth, Scott Cecil, Kat Murti, Evan
someone new.
Fernando Zarco Hernández, Luis Montoya,
2016 was a hard year. Cannabis may have won
Marisa Morales Loyola, Said Slim Pasaran,
big on the ballot, but politics still managed
Emma Guadalupe Rodríguez Romero
to draw some painful divides. The drug war
Clackamas
harms us all, so it’s no surprise SSDPers come
Latin America is one of the regions most
from all political walks of life (48% identify as
affected by the global drug war. Drug
Liberal/Progressive, 25% as Socialist, 19% as
criminalization has created unintended
Libertarian, 2% as Conservative, and 1% as
consequences that need urgent policy reforms
Anarchist). This diversity of viewpoints can
at local, regional, and international levels. The
be both a challenge and a unique strength.
work of student advocates and civil society
Ending the drug war means building coalitions
helped spearhead major victories at last
and collaborating with allies across the
year's UNGASS, but there is still much to do
political spectrum, so how do we approach the
in Latin America as we look forward to the
political diversity which makes our movement
next UNGASS in 2019. This will require new
so strong — and why is it so important that we
evidence, science based metrics, and new
all continue this fight together?
of working with your administration to implement them.
experiences from the global south.
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flex your rights in the digital space.
Legal Observer Training (hosted by the National Lawyers Guild)
11:45A - 12:45P
Nison Multnomah
Mechanisms of Psychedelic Psychotherapy
Online Organizing in the Surveillance Age - Presented by Electronic Frontier Foundation
Karen Cheseldon, Kevin Garcia, Richard
Tyler Coward, Amul Kalia, Sam Tracy, Tyler
The rebirth of psychedelic psychotherapy
Williams
may be one of the most promising routes in
Crown Zellerbach
contemporary treatment for addiction, PTSD,
Hartnell, Allison Wilens Clackamas
East Salon Grab lunch and make a point of meeting
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2:45P - 3:45P
“I'm Done with School. Now What?” Staying Involved After College Mikayla Hellwich, Kat Murti, A. Kathryn Parker, Sam Tracy Crown Zellerbach SSDP forms a huge part of our college experiences, but what happens after graduation? How can SSDP alumni stay involved — and why should they? How does SSDP experience translate into your future career? How do you put drug policy on your resume? What does it mean to be an SSDPer when college is over and you’re no longer a student?
Eradicating the Compound Stigmatization of the LGBTQ Community and Drug Use Emory Basso, Monique Chavez, Mat dos Santos, Dan Goldman, Andrew Hood Weyerhaeuser The LGBTQ movement has struggled for decades to sustain its voice for freedom, liberation, social change, and social justice.
Stigma is compounded for those in the
session will bring together advocates who
building coalitions, and sometimes it means
LGBTQ community who are drug users while
have engaged in strategic litigation as a tool
taking to the streets. Every activist needs to
our movements are both rooted in the core
in order to present case studies of litigation in
know when to use which tool to get the job
principle of personal sovereignty. However,
action, integrating litigation with an advocacy
done. What types of direct action are there
our bodies are used as a battleground for
campaign, and the challenges of using
and why do one over another? When does
competing political and cultural ideologies,
strategic litigation to advance policy reform.
protesting work—and when does it hurt
and we face the same enemies and weapons used against us such as police surveillance, repression, stigma, and moral panic. Learn what you can do to keep personal sovereignty alive and well in both the LGBTQ and drug policy reform movements.
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4:00P - 5:00P
The Stigma Surrounding People Who Inject Drugs Brooke Elliott, Rob Hofmann, Olivia Hohlweck, Kat Humphries Crown Zellerbach
your cause? How do you plan and execute a successful action—and how do you measure success? What legal ramifications should you be prepared for? And, how do you keep your people safe? This session will take policy change back to its radical roots and provide practical tools for public action.
Psychedelic Harm Reduction
Engage with a panel of individuals who have
Irina Alexander, Vilmarie Narloch
experience with injection drug use about the
Multnomah
stigma surrounding injection drug use and
Drugs & Indigenous Cultures: An anthropological history
This session will review different harm
related harm reduction tactics. As injection
Jake Agliata, Patricia Chúlver Benítez, Mariana
reduction strategies to consider if one
drug use and people who inject drugs are
Pérez, Marisa Morales Loyola
chooses to use psychedelics. Keeping in
demonized in the public sphere, learn the
Clackamas
mind SSDP does not condemn nor condone
true realities of injection drug use from those
Substances such as cannabis, magic
drug use, we understand the need to discuss
who know most on the subject. Topics will
mushrooms, coca leaf, and ayahuasca have
what to consider before, during, and after
include: harm reduction methods connected
been used by the indigenous cultures of
going on a psychedelic journey. Factors to be
to injection drug use, the stigma of injection
the American continents for thousands of
discussed include legal, emotional, physical,
drug use, the stigma of injection drug use
years. Some cultures have used substances
environmental, and others to inform students
in relation to the stigma attached to non-
for healing, while others see them has
about safe and healthy use of psychedelics.
injection drug use, personal experience with
an important piece of spirituality. We will
injection drug use, and facts backed with
explore how the history of substance use
research on injection drug use.
among indigenous people has impacted our
Creating a Culture of "Test Before You Ingest"
modern understanding of history, along with
Tibbetts
They Said What?? Crafting The Right Message for Your Audience
Clackamas
Mikayla Hellwich, Mike Liszewski, Kat Murti,
Until drugs like MDMA are available by
Evan Nison
prescription, they will continue to be made
Weyerhaeuser
by underground chemists with questionable
More and more people around the world
u
lab practices and toxic adulterants. Detection
are realizing that the War on Drugs hurts us
of fake drugs is a crucial aspect of harm
all, but not all for the same reason. How do
reduction in student communities. How do we
you talk to your mom, your pastor, or your
get the information out there? What are the
college roommate about why this work is so
SSDP-DARE Keynote: When Dehumanization and Scapegoating Turns Deadly: President Duterte and the drug war in the Philippines
different types of drug purity tests, and how
important? What language, arguments, and
Sanho Tree
can we provide them most easily to students
facts work best when and with whom? How
East Salon
and other people who use drugs?
do you identify the most powerful tactic for a
Often described as the Trump of Asia,
particular situation — and how do you switch
President Rodrigo Duterte has waged a
between messages while still maintaining
bloody drug war that has claimed some 8,000
your integrity? These expert communicators
lives (mostly killed by shadowy death squads)
will teach you how to navigate the tricky world
since he came to power last summer. This talk
of effective activism and strengthen your skills
will explore the background behind this drug
Pierre Baudin, Richard Hartnell, Logan
Tools for Change: Using strategic litigation for drug policy reform Leland Berger, Scott Bernstein, Alex Kreit, Lauren Mendelsohn Pendelton Strategic litigation is a method of bringing
as an activist.
6:00P - 6:30P
discussing the harmful effects prohibitionist policies have had on these cultures and why their voices must be included in our efforts to end the global drug war.
5:15P - 5:45P
war program, discuss alternative approaches, and identify ways SSDP chapters can take
choosing cases to bring to court based on
The Activists' Toolkit: How to make direct actions count
their larger policy implications. Strategic
Kaya Axelsson, Mat dos Santos, Kayvan
u
litigation is an important way to advance
Khalatbari, Arnold Schroder, Eric Sterling
Closing Ceremonies
drug policy by directly challenging policies
Multnomah
East Salon
and laws that stigmatize people who use
Sometimes creating political change means
Join SSDP staff for our closing ceremonies and
drugs, obstruct access to harm reduction
putting on a suit and lobbying Congress,
the premier of our conference video featuring
services, and infringe human rights. This
sometimes it means writing op-eds and
interviews and favorite moments!
about critical changes in the law by carefully
action no matter their location.
5:45P - 6:15P
7
SPEAKER BIOS
Queen Adesuyi is a policy associate for
she lived in DC, she was the Chair of SSDP’s
solidarity, and mutual aid.
the Drug Policy Alliance's Office of National
Board of Directors from 2010-2012, worked
Affairs. At DPA, she tracks all federal legislation
for the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation,
Zane Bader is a fourth year at the University
involving issues of criminal justice reform,
volunteered as a team leader for HIPS, and
marijuana reform, and harm reduction, and
advocated for DC's Good Samaritan Law.
she manages DPA's efforts to end collateral
Betty Aldworth joined the SSDP team in
served as his SSDP chapter’s Vice President
February 2014 as Executive Director and has
and Event Coordinator, as well as being the
since led the organization through its most
founder and President of the UGA Psychedelic
substantial growth period during which the
Club. During 2016, he was employed at his
member base and campuses on which SSDP is
University’s Center for Research on Behavioral
present have doubled, international presence
Health where he helped conduct the largest
has quintupled, and the policy change and
and longest comprehensive study on
education efforts members are leading
substance abuse treatment within the US.
have grown immeasurably. Betty served as
Emory Basso ‘12 served as the president
consequences and reentry hurdles for those who are criminal or juvenile justice involved. She also co-chairs the Reentry and Housing Coalition, a broad coalition of advocates with the mission of expanding access to affordable housing to the justice-involved. Queen hails from the South Bronx and is a recent graduate from Georgetown University.
of Georgia studying mathematics. He has been a DanceSafe volunteer since mid 2015. Throughout his undergrad years, he has
Jake Agliata ‘11* is SSDP's Outreach
spokesperson and advocacy director for
Coordinator for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic,
Colorado’s successful 2012 Campaign to
and International regions. In this role he
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and was the
helps students & young people develop SSDP
Deputy Director of the National Cannabis
chapters and helps them grow into effective
Industry Association in 2013. Prior to her work
activists. He also serves as the program lead
in marijuana policy and medical cannabis,
for SSDP's international work, where he helps
she was a volunteer leadership professional
amplify youth voices at the United Nations and
with some of Denver’s most well-respected
other global forums. He first got involved in
nonprofit organizations.
drug policy reform as a freshman at Dickinson
Ismail Ali ‘13 earned his J.D. at the University
runs a gender nonconformity blog and serves
of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2016
as a mentor to transgender youth.
while he worked for the ACLU of Northern
Pierre Baudin is a mixed up meatsack of
College in 2011 when he co-founded an SSDP chapter. Jake's life goals include total SSDP world domination, a humanitarian end to the global War on Drugs, and a Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl victory.
California’s Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Project. Ismail served as co-lead of Berkeley Law SSDP, where he coordinated events to
Wiqas Ahmad is a youth activist, advocate,
educate the law school community about
and young researcher from Pakistan. His
entheogens, challenge the stigma associated
work is focused on young people who
with psychedelic drug use, and critique the
live with the stigma of HIV AIDS, drug use,
racial dynamics of the cannabis industry. He
and sexual identity. He is an advocate for
believes that psychedelic consciousness is a
health policy reforms, harm reduction and
crucial piece of challenging oppression in all
speaking for drug users’ human rights. He is a
its forms and hopes to develop and advocate
founder and Executive Director of Pakistan's
for just, equitable, and creative alternatives to
national youth-led organization and network
the failed war on drugs.
Tabeer: Initiative for Youth and Sustainable
Kaya Axelsson is a community organizer
Development. He is an international working group member of Youth RISE and is the SSDP Ambassador for Pakistan.
from the Pacific Northwest where she has been starting protests since she was eight years old and mobilizing for systemic change
Irina Alexander ‘07 is the Program
on issues ranging from climate change to
Coordinator of At The Crossroads, an
gender justice to police accountability. She
organization in San Francisco that helps
has managed campaigns for progressive
unstably-housed young adults live happy
candidates and staffed local nonprofits
and healthy lives. She is also enrolled in grad
including the Climate Disobedience Center.
school at the University of San Francisco,
Most recently, her work has focused on legal
studying therapy. In her spare time, she
support and narrative strategy around the
serves as a supervisor for the Zendo Project
Break Free mass climate action. She is the co-
(a project of MAPS that helps people navigate
founder of the Greater Seattle Neighborhood
difficult psychedelic experiences) and co-
Action Coalition which supports politically
organizes the SF Psychedelic Society. When
targeted communities through direct action,
of the Virginia Tech SSDP chapter from 2013 to 2015, and is now a member of SSDP's operations staff. Using their systems engineering background, they help to ensure the efficient daily operation of SSDP. Outside of drug policy reform, Em has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights for several years, working with organizations such as HokiePride, T-Cal, and Werk for Peace. Em
varied composition. A Juggling Engineer with Psychonautical leanings, Pierre's journey has taken him to some strange places. Currently he attends the University of California Santa Cruz where he is in his final year of undergraduate study in Robotics Engineering with an offer to continue his work as a PhD student next Fall. Through UC Santa Cruz's SSDP chapter he spreads the good word about Psychedelic Risk Reduction to any weirdo who will listen.
Leland R. Berger, a Portand activist and attorney, formed Oregon CannaBusiness Compliance Counsel, LLC in 2013 following 30 years in private practice. From 1996-2013, his practice focused on representing medical cannabis patients and providers. A co-drafter of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act and of Ballot Measure 91, Mr. Berger also helped draft dispensary initiatives and lobbied the Oregon Legislature on behalf of patients and their providers. He now advocates on behalf of Portland NORML’s Legislative Committee and works statewide to end cannabigotry. Mr. Berger’s activism includes defending protesters locally and public speaking nationally.
* 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
Scott Bernstein is Senior Policy Analyst
Juana A. Boateng is a youth activist,
Sam Chapman ‘09 is a Creative Change
with the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and
the chapter leader for SSDP Ghana, and
Agent, Cannabis Policy Expert, registered
a lawyer in Vancouver, Canada. Through
an executive for the former president of
lobbyist, and licensed real estate broker.
his own legal practice and with Vancouver-
Ghana, H.E. Jerry John Rawlings. In 2016,
Over the past 8 years, Sam has written laws,
based NGO Pivot Legal Society, Scott has
Juana launched an annual open forum to
regulations and policies at the state and local
participated in strategic litigation focused
engage stakeholders and young people on
levels for cities and counties across the state
on advancing human rights of people who
the effects of drug policy and the importance
of Oregon. Sam is currently working to pass
use drugs, including challenging municipal
of rehabilitation. She is a 2017/2018 Young
SB 307, a law that would legalize cannabis
anti-harm reduction bylaws, advocating for
Diplomat of Ghana, 2016 YALI RLC fellow,
lounges and temporary event licenses. All
access to prescription heroin treatment,
youth MP for Ablekuman West constituency
of Sam's success in the cannabis industry is
and defending Insite, North America’s first
for the Youth Parliament of Ghana 2017,
thanks to SSDP.
sanctioned injection site in the Supreme
and was the focal person for the Women’s
Court of Canada and lower courts. For the
Situation Room and UNDP during the 2016
Monique Chavez ‘14’s passion for drug
last three years, Scott was a program officer
elections. She writes on health and human
with the Global Drug Policy Program of Open
rights for the Business and Financial Times
Society Foundations, building collaboration
and at juanaboateng.com. Juana studied arts
within a global reform movement targeted at
and design at Ho Polytechnic and human
the 2016 UNGASS and supporting a nascent
development and psychology at Regent
drug policy reform movement in Africa.
University.
Alex Betsos is a recent undergraduate
Joe Caldwell is a Senior Associate on the
Monique serves as the Executive Director
in sociology and anthropology from Simon
Prevention and Health Equity teams at the
of the recently formed New Mexico NORML
Fraser University. He has worked in nightlife
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS
chapter, and also plans on opening New
harm reduction for two years, and sat on
Directors. Joe provides technical assistance
Mexico’s first comprehensive cannabis law
the Board of Directors for CSSDP. In 2014
support to state health departments through
firm to help reform current drug policies and
he co-founded Karmik, an organization
NASTAD’s capacity building assistance
push for policies that emphasize public health.
dedicated to promoting consent culture in
program around drug user health, HIV
the Vancouver electronic scene. His research
and hepatitis prevention, and community
Karen Chesledon, R.N. is a psychiatric
focuses on online communities and Novel
engagement. Prior to his time at NASTAD,
Psychoactive Substances. His research
Joe worked at HIPS in Washington, D.C.
uses online methods to understand the
supporting drug user and sex worker
way that knowledge is formed in small drug
advocacy efforts. Joe holds a B.A. in Health
communities and how they create their own
and Society from Beloit College in Beloit,
identities.
Wisconsin.
Representative Earl Blumenauer
Scott Cecil ‘10 is the Outreach Coordinator
Vashon Island, Washington.
received his law degree from Lewis and
for the Southeast and Southwest regions and
Clark College, where he spearheaded the
California. In addition to his work with with
Patricia Chúlver is the founder and chapter
effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon
SSDP chapters in those areas, Scott serves as
and at the national level. On platforms of
the staff liaison to the SSDP Advisory Council
transportation, planning, environmental
and is the leader of the HBCU Working Group.
programs and public participation, he was
Since entering college in 2009 as a returning
elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972,
student, Scott has been heavily involved in
the Multnomah County Commission in 1978,
student activism and turned his attention
and Portland City Council in 1986. Elected
and efforts primarily towards drug policy and
to the US House of Representatives in 1996,
criminal justice reform after he was arrested
Mr. Blumenauer has advocated for Livable
for marijuana possession in Arizona in 2010.
Communities: places where people are safe,
He was the co-founder of the first chapter of
healthy and economically secure. He is a
SSDP in the state of Arizona and was elected
longtime advocate for sensible drug policies,
to SSDP’s Board of Directors in 2013 where he
coauthoring “The Path Forward: Rethinking
re-founded the Advisory Council committee
Federal Marijuana Policy” with Congressman
and served as a member of the Appointed
Jared Polis, introducing numerous bills to
Directors Committee and the Executive
reform marijuana law, and founding the
Director Evaluation Committee, roles in which
Congressional Cannabis Caucus in 2017.
he served until joining the SSDP staff in June of 2014.
10
policy reform was ignited at the young age of fourteen when she attended her first rave and was introduced to harm reduction. As a recent graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law, she re-chartered the SSDP chapter and now sits as the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Following law school,
RN, graduate of Seattle University, BS in Nursing, 2016 graduate of CIIS, CPTR program; Certificate of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies and Research. She has spent her nursing career working in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment. She is currently retired from hospital nursing and has a private practice on
leader of EPSD Bolivia. She studied Social Communication at the Catholic University San Pablo in Bolivia. As a Bolivian diplomat in Health, Human Rights, and Drug Policy, she attended the high level discussion "New challenges of the world drug problem in the XXI Century" in Mexico City carried out by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the OAS. She is the founder of La Gioconda Colectivo de Arte and the Action Semilla Foundation.
Tyler Coward is an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a nonpartisan, nonprofit group dedicated to defending freedom of speech, due process, and academic freedom on America's college campuses. Outside of work he enjoys reading, being outdoors, and playing PS4.
Blessing Davids is the Project Director for
kits and supplements available to the student
development work, including five years
SSDP Nigeria chapter. In this capacity, she
body along with DanceSafe-esque tabling
in Afghanistan (between 2004 and 2014)
works with her chapter's leadership to plan
at every major dance. She has also done
working for USAID, UNDP and the U.S. Army
and see successful execution of the various
work with the peer-run needle exchange in
and Marine Corps. The U.S. insistence on
programmes and projects of SSDP Nigeria.
Portland, the Portland People’s Outreach
the illegality of Afghanistan's main export
Project. In the future, Brooke would like to get
crop (opium poppy) has resulted in massive
involved with the Safe Injection Facilities (SIFs)
corruption of government and police that is
that are soon to be implemented in Seattle
undercutting development and driving the
and (hopefully!) around the United States.
country into the hands of extremists. Besides
education sessions and organized events on
Sonia Espinosa is a Harvard graduate
the law degree, she has a PhD in Human
topics such as “Women and the Drug War”.
whose senior thesis explored the relationship
She is currently a Policy and Campaigns intern
between the nation's “booming cannabis
at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and
industry" and its relationship to access, race,
Justice working on the campaigns to close
class, and citizenship. Espinosa co-founded
Rikers Island jail complex and implement a
the Cannabis Cultural Association (CCA),
true speedy trial law in New York state. She
an organization which strives to involve
also volunteers at Lower East Side Harm
underrepresented communities in the
Lauren Gabrielle is a working member of
Reduction Center’s syringe exchange.
legal cannabis/hemp industry by providing
the harm reduction community, volunteering
informational workshops, cultural programs,
with and supplying multiple peer-run syringe
and community events with an emphasis
exchange programs in the PNW. Her current
on issues disproportionately affecting
work emphasizes the placement of active
communities of color. Sonia is now on the
drug users at the front of the harm reduction
Massachusetts Recreational Consumer
movement, necessitating their input and
Council, MRCC, whose efforts seek to bridge
hands on participation in the design and
the gap between communities and local
implementation of services that directly affect
legislators. A result of this effort is #WeedTalk,
their own lives. She is out of the closet as a
an educational visual series that chronicles the
street and injection drug user, and would
science, culture, technology, and economics of
like to make herself available in confidence
the legalization of marijuana.
as a friendly ear to anyone experiencing
Nikki Fisher is a Portland native who
stigmatized treatment due to their own drug
Rebecca Dayan is the co-president and founder of Sarah Lawrence College’s SSDP chapter, located in Bronxville, NY. As an SSDP chapter leader, she has helped lead peer
Edgar Diaz is a third year law student and the president of LSSDP's Willamette University College of Law Chapter in Oregon. He is currently a law clerk for Oregon Cannabusiness Compliance Counsel, LLC and the Chief Legal Researcher for Portland NORML's Legislative Committee. Edgar has been working on trying to reduce sentences for prisoners serving marijuana convictions. He also has a B.A. in United States History from the University of California, Davis.
Ashley Dorety is a Family Preservation Project alumni and plans to share her experience with incarceration, DHS, and the
attended the University of Tampa where she obtained her B.A. in Government and World
Factors (user-centered systems design). She is also a former City of Chicago department head and has taught Privatization at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. She now lives in Bend, Oregon.
use. She can be reached by email at lauren@ peoplesharmreductionalliance.org.
Affairs. After college, she worked for the ACLU
Kevin Garcia ‘15, Research Assistant
of Florida on immigration reform, drug policy
for Florida International University and
reforms, LGBT campaigns, and a variety of
a member of SSDP’s Board of Directors,
other issues. Nikki's work in Oregon politics
re-founded the SSDP chapter at FIU in
included managing Sara Gelser’s successful
2015. As a former chapter leader, he has
state senate campaign in 2014 and serving as
hosted and presented at events involving
Chief of Staff for State Senator Sara Gelser in
Harm Reduction, Post-Traumatic Stress and
2015. She was the Regional Field Director for
fundraising towards novel treatment options,
the Oregon United for Marriage Campaign in
Peer to Peer Education, Overdose Awareness
Eugene and Corvallis. Her passion is driven
and Prevention, and Veterans in support for
by a focus on criminal and social justice
Amendment 2 for Medical Marijuana in Florida.
reform, LGBT issues, reproductive rights,
He has participated in events, conferences,
economic and racial justice, education and
and trainings with DanceSafe, DPA, MAPS,
veterans’ issues. Nikki is on the board of
the Zendo Project, and Students for Liberty.
the Oregon Women’s Campaign School,
Currently, Kevin is working to establish a
Women Investment Network Political Action
pilot naloxone police-carry program, gaining
Brooke Elliott is the Chapter Leader for
Committee and is Commissioner on the
experience as an RA in preparation for his
Reed College SSDP. Through SSDP, Brooke
Oregon Commission for Women.
PhD in Clinical Psychology, and working
has worked to implement a Trip Sitting
Inge Fryklund is a former prosecutor in
towards ending the stigma against drug
struggles people go through as parents who have problematic relationships with drugs.
Mat dos Santos joined the ACLU of Oregon as Legal Director in March of 2015 after nearly a decade of practice in the Bay Area. He oversees the legal program which includes a docket of over 30 pieces of impact litigation and nearly 3,000 requests for legal assistance per year. He has worked with numerous organizations including he National Center for Lesbian Rights, Immigration Equality and the Transgender Law Center and represented a wide variety of clients in varying areas of civil rights litigation. Mat currently sits on the board of the Transgender Law Center.
hotline, distribute a drug and injection safety pamphlet, host naloxone trainings, and has continued the Reed tradition of having test
Cook County (Chicago) Illinois where she first saw the damage caused by the War on Drugs.
users in collaboration with staff and student organizations at his alma mater FIU.
She then spent a decade in international
11
Natalie Ginsberg earned her Master's
juggling convention. Last year he joined the
Andrew Hood is a fourth year mathematics
in Social Work from Columbia University in
Zendo Project, where he trained as a “sitter”
and biochemistry student at The University
2014, and her Bachelor's in History from
for festival-goers struggling with difficult
of Texas at Austin. He is currently the chapter
Yale University in 2011. At Columbia, Natalie
psychedelic experiences.
leader and has been involved with SSDP
served as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy
Mikayla Hellwich ‘10 joined SSDP in 2010
for three years. He has written and passed
Alliance, where she helped legalize medical marijuana in her home state of New York, and worked to end New York's racist marijuana arrests. Natalie has also worked as a courtmandated therapist for individuals arrested for prostitution and drug-related offenses, and as a middle school guidance counselor at an NYC public school. Natalie's clinical work with trauma survivors spurred her interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy, which she believes can ease a wide variety of both mental and physical ailments by addressing the root cause of individuals' difficulties, rather than their symptoms. Through her work at MAPS, Natalie advocates for research
a chapter leader for 3 years. She's the media relations director for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and the founder/ executive director of DrugStory, a new harm reduction web-application for drug consumers
legislation through the University of Texas student government expanding medical amnesty and naloxone access on campus, and volunteers with the Austin Harm Reduction Coalition syringe exchange. Much of his academic career has been devoted to studying
to be launched in April 2017. She loves
cultures surrounding drugs and alcohol.
friendship, cats, and justice.
Jesce Horton is the owner of Panacea Valley
Fernando Zarco Hernández is the
Gardens, a medical cannabis cultivation center
chapter leader of EPSD Mexico in Morelia, Michoacán, where he speaks out against police extortion for possession of marijuana in Mexico. He currently holds a postdoctoral position at the Doctorate Institution of Art and
and co-founder of Panacea, an award-winning dispensary in Portland, OR. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), the first non-profit organization founded to create
Culture.
equal access and economic empowerment
both the war on drugs and the current mental
Rob Hofmann is the current chapter
health paradigm.
leader at SUNY New Paltz. Rob was inspired
the communities most affected by the war
Dan Goldman ‘99 is the only person
to pursue drug policy and criminal justice
to provide evidence-based alternatives to
in SSDP history to attend every national conference. Beginning in the fall of 1999, when he joined the University of WisconsinMadison SSDP chapter, one of the first five chapters in the nation at their first meeting, Dan has been involved in nearly every aspect of SSDP's growth and development. He has served as a student member of the Board of Directors and was elected as part of the first group of non-student Board members in 2001. He joined the staff in 2005 as the Director of Outreach and Alumni, where he developed
reform while lobbying to Ban the Box at the State Capitol. In 2016, New Paltz SSDP played a large role in phonebanking for 2016 medical and recreational marijuana initiatives, and continues to provide harm reduction and drug policy information through events on campus. As a University Police Department Committee member, Rob helped to plan New Paltz’ Restorative Justice Event with the Chief of Police to discuss restorative justice options for the University, and is currently playing a role in crafting a replacement to the campus’
for cannabis businesses, their patients, and on drugs. Jesce bikes and runs with his dog Buddha in his beloved hometown of Portland.
Kat Humphries '10, Programs Director for the Harm Reduction Action Center, founded a chapter of SSDP at the College of Charleston in 2010. After college, she joined the Vicente Sederberg team in Denver. At VS, Kat worked in regulatory compliance for the marijuana industry- conducting facility audits, writing reports and SOPs for businesses, and submitting public comment to suggest amendments to the state regulations. Currently, Kat's work is divided between
two-strike marijuana expulsion policy.
direct service in Colorado's largest syringe
he founded leGAYlize It! with a 4/20 Eve event
Olivia Hohlweck is a current undergraduate
at the historic Stonewall Inn. Today, Dan is a
student at SUNY New Paltz pursuing a dual-
during the HRAC’s drop-in and outreach
member of the SSDP Board of Trustees and
degree in Psychology and Philosophy. She
can be heard regularly on the industry leading
has been an active member of New Paltz’s
podcast Marijuana Today.
SSDP since her freshman year, and also has
Richard Hartnell is a voracious autodidact
served as its Harm Reduction Chair. Recently,
SSDP's first international chapters. In 2012,
who was expelled from his hometown community college for earning too many credits. Subsequently, he joined a circus collective in Oakland and spent the next half 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 of entheogens and creativity; he majors in cognitive science and neuroscience while running the local SSDP chapter and an annual
12
at the University of Maryland, where she was
Olivia has been working as a peer leader for a not-for-profit substance education program, Awareness INC, which helps young adults through a nurturing environment overcome their addictions. She has been trained in administering Naloxone and has given demonstrations to the public. Olivia’s biggest passion is fighting for the legalization of psychedelics so she can one day become a psychedelic therapist.
exchange and managing the data collected hours. She sits on the Minority Cannabis Business Association's Policy Committee, advises several drug policy reform non-profits on fundraising strategies, and has served on the Board of Directors for both the Colorado Juvenile Defender Center as well as Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
Kamani Jefferson is a New York-bred entrepreneur with a background in business development. After graduating with a degree from Binghamton University, he obtained start-up development experience in NYC before co-founding the Cannabis Cultural Association. He recently relocated to Boston to work on the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol while volunteering for
both Students for Sensible Drug Policy and
Kayvan S.T. Khalatbari is co-founder
(with Gerald F. Uelmen) (Thomson Reuters,
Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance.
of Denver Relief, Denver Relief Consulting,
2013, updated annually); and co-author of
As the President of the Massachusetts
Cresco Labs, Silver Sage Wellness, and an
a forthcoming casebook on Marijuana Law
Recreational Consumer Council, he is looking
additional dozen companies in the regulated
(with Douglas A. Berman) (Carolina Academic
to further grow his career by networking with
cannabis market. Kayvan has been active in
Press, forthcoming). Alex is frequently quoted
like-minded individuals and learning more
cannabis advocacy and government relations
in the media on drug policy and marijuana
about innovation in the cannabis industry.
for over a decade and currently sits on the
law issues, having appeared in news outlets
Anthony Johnson ‘01 served as chief
board of directors for the National Cannabis
including the Christian Science Monitor, the
Industry Association, the Minority Cannabis
Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and
Business Association, Students for Sensible
VICE News.
Drug Policy (BoT), the Resource Innovation
Michael Liszewski ‘07 ( J.D., 2011, UDC
petitioner of Oregon's Measure 91 and director of the 2014 Vote Yes on 91 campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, he works to effectively implement Oregon's cannabis legalization system while protecting patients, consumers, small businesses and the will of the voters. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature and regulatory bodies across the state. Anthony was a cofounder of the University of Missouri-Columbia
Institute, is a founding council member for the Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation and co-chairs a Committee within the Denver Department of Environmental Health to promote environmental stewardship in the regulated cannabis industry. He was the lead proponent of Initiative 300 in Denver and is currently a candidate for Mayor in Denver's
Law), is a former SSDP board member and a leading expert on medical cannabis laws in the United States. He worked at Americans for Safe Access (2011-2017) as a policy analyst and lobbyist advocating for programs that best served the needs of patients. There, Mike was integral to passing the RohrabacherFarr amendment, protecting those obeying
SSDP chapter in 2001 and co-authored the
2019 election.
successful local decriminalization measure
Amber Khan, JD, senior staff attorney
prosecution. He helped approve and improve
spearheaded by students in 2004.
for Advocates for Pregnant Women, has
medical cannabis programs in over a dozen
Amul Kalia is an analyst with the Electronic
represented clients in a variety of civil matters
states. Since leaving ASA, Mike provides
including family and immigration law. She
consulting services to advocacy organizations
served as a senior staff attorney at the Center
on policy issues and to business entities
for Family Representation in New York City,
seeking state-licensure.
where she represented parents in child
Nazlee Maghsoudi is the Knowledge
Frontier Foundation (EFF), the leading nonprofit organization protecting our digital rights. He mostly works with EFF attorneys in keeping a pulse on emerging issues, and finding opportunities for the organization to get involved. He also engages EFF staff in identifying issues that are worthy of advocacy— especially when legal action is not necessarily the best approach. When users have questions or concerns regarding technology, he works with EFF technologists
abuse and neglect matters. Ms. Khan has also worked in the field of international human rights, focusing on post-conflict resolution and the treatment of refugees. Ms. Khan received her undergraduate degree from American University, her master’s degree from Columbia University, and graduated from George
state medical cannabis laws from federal
Translation Manager at the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP), where she plays a lead role in the production and dissemination of evidence-based drug policy research. She is Strategic Advisor at Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP), having formerly acted as Chair of
to address them and communicates the
Washington University Law School.
importance of a private, secure, and open
Hunter Knight is the chapter leader for
Outreach Volunteer at TRIP! Project, a harm
web. Amul is particularly interested in the new
the University of North Georgia Gainesville.
reduction program in Toronto that provides
technologies being used to investigate crimes
Under his leadership, this chapter has been
education and support to youth in nightlife
and their constitutional implications.
on the top ten of the SSDP CAT leaderboard
and party settings. She has been deeply
Nick Kent is the Chapter Leader at the
all year and has engaged in more testimony
involved the development of evidence-based
and lobbying at the local level than any
drug policies at the grassroots, local, national,
other SSDP chapters this year. He hopes to
and international levels since 2013. Nazlee
to demonstrate to the newcomers to the
holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's
SSDP network that it doesn't take much to be
University and a Master of Global Affairs from
an active change-maker beyond hard work
the University of Toronto.
and setting goals. He hopes inspire others
David McNicoll has been advocating for the
University of Melbourne, Australia. He is currently completing a Master of Secondary Teaching through research, having just begun a thesis on the high school drug education curriculum. Nick has led the SSDP team in consulting with the University of Melbourne Student Union to develop their Harm
to realize that all one needs is dedication to
the Board of Directors. Nazlee is also an
legalization of marijuana for the past 15 years.
Reduction Program, which will include drug
achieve impactful changes in our society.
education, welfare and drug checking services
Alex Kreit ‘98 is an Associate Professor at
Cakes, in Oregon for several years, McNicoll
provided to students free of charge. Nick also
Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He is author
foresaw the need for educating the public
volunteers with DanceWize, a program of
of the casebook Controlled Substances: Crime,
about safely consuming edible products. He
Harm Reduction Victoria, helping to run a chill
Regulation, and Policy (Carolina Academic
conceived the idea to create public education
space/harm reduction tent at summer music
Press, 2013); co-author of the reference
campaigns and "educate our communities
festivals and parties.
book Drug Abuse and the Law Sourcebook
from within our industry." The result was
After running his edible business, Dave’s Space
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the formation of the Oregon Responsible
Sarah Merrigan ‘13 joined SSDP as a
of SSDP DARE & the Fundraising Committee.
Edibles Council in late 2015, with their first
college freshman when she founded the
She also edits the Monthly Mosaic. Kat
educational campaign, “Try 5,” which launched
first chapter in her state at the University
earned her B.A. in political science from the
in March 2016. The campaign encourages first
of Nebraska Omaha in February of 2013.
University of California at Berkeley, where
time consumers to start with only 5mg of THC.
A study abroad trip to Portugal and the
she served as president of CalSSDP. While in
Alex Meggitt and Ashlyn Ruga are 3L
Netherlands that summer inspired her to
college, she interned at SSDP and served as
look at drug policy from a global perspective.
co-coordinator of the AMPLIFY Project. Kat
She was elected to SSDP's Board of Directors
was named an Alumni All Star in December of
in September 2014, serving in leadership
2010, a Spotlighted Alum in January of 2012,
positions on both the International Outreach
and the 2016 A. Kathryn Parker Outstanding
Committee and the Diversity, Awareness,
Alumnus in Service to SSDP.
Reflection, and Education (DARE) Committee.
Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, Psy.D. ‘09 earned her M.A. in Counseling and
law students at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR. Ashlyn runs the Portland NLG's Protestor Support Project, and Alex serves as the coordinator for the chapter's Legal Observer program. They are both Certified Law Students at a local public defender's office. The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members–lawyers, law
for SSDP, Media Relations Intern for LEAP, and currently serves as the Engagement Director and Round Table Host for the podcast This
Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University.
students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers
Week in Drugs.
united in chapters and committees–the Guild
Luis Montoya is the Library Assistant for
support, co-authorship, and event planning
works locally, nationally and internationally
Florida International University Green Library.
for the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy.
as an effective political and social force in the
As chapter president, he focused heavily on
Her interests in drug education, access to
service of the people.
raising awareness about the opioid overdose
treatment, and harm reduction have led
Samantha Melius is a senior at Kent
epidemic, implementing Naloxone carry
to numerous projects, including providing
by FIU PD, promoting harm reduction, and
therapy to college students, a predoctoral
promoting the medical marijuana initiative
internship at a local health department,
in Florida, Amendment 2. He established
and a postdoctoral fellowship in a private
connections with the City of Miami, Miami-
agency. Additionally, Vilmarie has taught
Dade County, DCF, and a myriad of university
undergraduate and graduate courses in
clubs, such as Global Indigenous Group, NAMI,
psychology and substance use disorder
HESO, FIU NAACP, and Plant-Based Society.
treatment. Vilmarie is SSDP’s Drug Education
He is currently working on initiating the pilot
Manager, and Manager of Training and
naloxone police carry program, on building
Technical Assistance at Heartland Alliance’s
connections with more organizations and
Center for Systems Change.
professors across campus, and creating a
Evan Nison '09 is a member of the Board
State University studying Environmental and Conservation Biology with minors in both Sustainability and Business Administration. She is the chapter leader of SSDPKSU, the first intern with the Ohio Hemp Industries Association, an intern at Maplestar Organic Farm, and was the Assistant Manager of Holistic Hemptique. She focuses her studies on sustainable agriculture and cannabis advocacy, with a specific interest in industrial hemp policy and its environmental benefits. She is also interested in holistic
course through the Honors college based on
At Roosevelt, she provided research
of Directors of SSDP and NORML. He is also
healing practices, and is certified in Mental
SSDP’s peer education curriculum.
Health First Aid, as well as a certified Reiki I
Marisa Morales Loyola studies
PR firm, and co-founder of Whoopi & Maya,
Practitioner.
psychology at the Iberoamerican University
a brand of medical cannabis products for
Lauren Mendelsohn ‘09 is the Chair of
and also holds a diploma in Drug Policy,
women with actress Whoopi Goldberg.
Health and Human Rights from the CIDE
He attended Ithaca College, where he was
(Center for Economic Research and Teaching).
President of the SSDP chapter for 4 years.
She is currently is a chapter leader of
Evan has been featured in news sources such
Estudantes por una Política Sensata de
as Good Morning America, the NY Times,
Drogas, México. She has been a drug policy
Politico, USA Today, NBC News, Bloomberg TV,
and harm reduction activist for more than
and Forbes. He also received the 2011 NORML
three years, participating in forums and peer
Student Activism Award and High Times
education workshops around Mexico. She also
Freedom Fighter Award for his advocacy.
promotes drug checking programs in festivals,
Kris Nyrop is the LEAD National Support
SSDP’s Board of Directors and has served on the Board since 2014. She currently works as an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa in Northern California, where she practices cannabis law and freedom defense. She is the founder and former leader of the University of California, Irvine Law School (’16) chapter. Lauren first became involved with SSDP as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland (’13), which inspired her to pursue a legal career. In college, she wrote for The Diamondback newspaper, often
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She's worked as UNGASS Coordinator Intern
providing safer means of consumption based on the objectives of harm reduction. Recently, she participated in the International Youth
President of NisonCo, a cannabis specific
Director at Seattle’s Public Defender Association and has worked on the LEAD project since 2009. He was the Executive
focusing on drug policy. In law school, Lauren
Drug Strategies Convening in Bangkok.
helped establish a needle exchange program
Kat Murti ‘09 serves as an Appointed
from 1997-2007. Prior to that he worked for
and volunteered at expungement clinics.
Director on the SSDP Board of Directors, Vice
the Washington State Department of Health,
Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Co-Chair
Public Health - Seattle and King County, and
Director of Street Outreach Services in Seattle
the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the
so engaged with SSDP, the Outstanding Alum
co-founder of Cannabis Cultural Association
University of Washington. He was a project
in Service to SSDP award is named after her.
(CCA), a non-profit organization based in New
ethnographer for the Vancouver Injection Drug
In addition to her leadership within SSDP,
York dedicated to bringing diversity to the
User Study from 1997 to 1999. He has worked
Kathryn is Vice Chair of the Oakland Cannabis
industry whilst educating communities who
as an outreach worker, researcher, and trainer
Regulatory Commission and President of
have been misinformed by the War on Drugs.
in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention, hepatitis C
Conspiracy of Venus, an all-women accapella
Skilled in media relations and emotional/
prevention, syringe exchange, harm reduction,
choir in San Francisco. During business hours,
cultural intelligence, he sees cannabis/hemp
and drug policy reform. Additionally, he has
Kathryn is the paralegal, bookkeeper, and
as “the great unifier” with the power to bring
consulted with projects throughout the U.S. as
office manager for the California Appellate Law
communities closer together, when utilized
well as in Canada, Russia, and the Republic of
Group LLP.
properly. Jacob hopes to unite different
Georgia.
Said Slim Pasaran is a physical
cultural demographics and provide awareness
Stephen Yinka Oguntoyinbo is the
anthropologist graduate from National School
Founder, Country Representative, and
of Anthropology and History in Mexico. In 2013
Chapter Leader for SSDP's Nigeria chapter.
he founded, Verter A.C. a multidisciplinary
Emmett Reistroffer '09 led the petition to
He has extensive experience working with
organization that focuses on human rights,
put Amendment 64 on the ballot in Colorado
media and has traveled to sixteen different
drug policy, sexual diversity, and HIV/AIDs.
in 2011, and several initiative campaigns in
countries to conduct highly skilled trainings in
He is also a documentarian who focuses on
other states. In addition, Emmett is a Policy
media & online branding. He has also aided
the experience of people who inject drugs in
Consultant at Denver Relief Consulting and
in the development of some of the top youth
Mexico.
formerly served as a local liquor and marijuana
organization in Africa. The United Nations, in
Mariana Pérez has been an active member
licensing official.
of the NGO Movimental since 2013, where
Emma Guadalupe Rodríguez Romero
recognition of his active roles in development works, named him an “Ambassador for Peace”.
about the multifaceted purposes of cannabis and hemp.
she is in charge of public relations. She was
founded the first SSDP chapter in Mexico
Jason Ortiz ‘07 is an alumnus of the UConn
a collaborator on the No More harm, for a
in 2010, where she still serves as a chapter
SSDP chapter and served on the SSDP Board
New Drug Policy campaign and member of
leader. She graduated from the Faculty of
of Directors twice, including time as the Chair
the Health Commission of the Chamber of
Political and Social Sciences of the National
of the Diversity committee. He currently
Deputies of Chile representing civil society.
Autonomous University of Mexico with a
serves on the Board of the Minority Cannabis
She is starting the SSDP Chile chapter, and
degree in public administration and political
Business Association as its Policy Committee
studying Technical Communication and Public
science. She is also a member of Register of
Co-chair, and led the organizing around the
Relations at the Academy of Languages and
Young Researchers of the UNAM, has been a
production of a Model State Legalization Bill
Professional Studies (AIEP) of the Andrés Bello
consultant for the report Observatory Youth
that brought together dozens of stakeholders
University.
Rights Mexico City, and studies criminalization
of color to draft a model legalization bill
Joseph Petitt ‘14 is the Executive Assistant
faced by young people due to prohibition in
written, funded and organized exclusively by people of color.
for the Los Angeles Regional Reentry
Mexico.
Partnership (LARRP), where he also leads
Nick Rosenberg ‘11 is a Mental Health
Lauren Padgett is the Development Officer
the Proposition 64 and Proposition 47
Counselor at the Fred Finch Youth Center
at Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Her work
implementation work, including coordinating
in Oakland, CA. He joined the University of
includes grant writing, planning events, and
record change clinics all over Los Angeles
Maryland (UMD) chapter in 2011 because of
growing the Sensible Society donor club. She
County. A native of Los Angeles with a B.S.
his passion for social justice. While at UMD he
is a founding board member of DrugStory, a
in Criminology and Criminal Justice from
co-created and lead a service trip on disability
non-profit, internet-based harm reduction
California State University, Long Beach, Joseph
rights and inclusion for the UMD Alternative
tool currently in development by SSDP alumni.
joined LARRP in 2016, after working with
Breaks program. As a summer intern in 2014
Lauren joined the SSDP team in 2014 after
the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) as a criminal
for both Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
getting her start in drug policy by advocating
justice intern, working on legislation, political
and SSDP he created a policy strategy for
to expand Washington, DC's medical cannabis
advocacy, and developing materials relating to
protecting medical cannabis patients, arguing
program and working on the membership
racial justice, drug policy and criminal justice
it is a disability rights issue. He is continuously
team at Marijuana Policy Project. Lauren lives
system reform. Joseph also co-founded the
challenging stigma, often by advocating for
in DC and plays for the cannabis movement
Students for Sensible Drug Policy Chapter at
drug policy reform and harm reduction.
softball team, the One Hitters.
California State University.
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is a
A. Kathryn Parker ‘06 fell in love with
Jacob Plowden ‘15 is an alumnus of SSDP,
former federal prosecutor and state trial and
SSDP as an alumna. Upon realizing the power
originally recruited by chapter president
appellate judge. Ms. Rosenblum is the first
of the SSDP network, she knew she'd found
Leland Radovanovic after volunteering at the
woman to serve as Oregon Attorney General,
her place. She is on the Alumni Association
NYC Sensible Soirée in 2015. He’s a graduate
first elected in 2012 and reelected in 2016.
Leadership Board, is the founder and editor
of CUNY Baruch College with his degree in
Her priorities include consumer protection
of the Alumni Association Newsletter, and is
Corporate Communications. Jacob is also a
and civil rights – advocating for and protecting
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Oregon's children, seniors, immigrants
back federal financial aid for students with
a comprehensive outreach campaign called
and crime victims and those saddled with
drug convictions. Through that campaign,
“Project Green B.” Katie will complete her
education-related debt. She has long
he shepherded the founding of Students for
Master’s degree this spring at the California
supported regulation of cannabis, leading
Sensible Drug Policy. In 2017, Adam founded
Institute of Integral Studies, and will begin
the chorus of Attorneys general prepared to
the Craft Cannabis Alliance, bringing together
a Doctoral program next fall to pursue the
defend state reforms from federal overreach,
craft cannabis businesses committed to
research she’s most passionate about:
and recently reached a $1.1M settlement
clean, sustainably produced cannabis, ethical
psychedelics, spirituality, and self-healing
against Insys, a manufacturer of fentanyl, for
employment practices, local ownership,
among Millennials.
improper promotion of the powerful opioid.
community engagement, and the movement to end prohibition. He is a frequent
Patricia Sully is a staff attorney at the Public
Heather Rowlett received her MSW at Portland State University and has worked as
Defender Association where she works on a number of public policy issues including the
a coach and trainer in the research field, a
Emma Spector is a sophomore at Dickinson
campaign to bring Supervised Consumption
crisis and ICTS therapist in the community,
College studying Political Science and French.
Spaces to the Seattle/King County area. She
a Multnomah County TAY clinician, and an
Originally from outside of Boston, Emma
provides legal support to individuals engaged
abortion counselor. She currently coordinates
became involved with SSDP during her first
in direct action and coordinates VOCAL-WA.
the Family Preservation Project at Coffee
year of college, and became the Secretary
Prior to joining PDA, Patricia served as the
Creek.
of the Dickinson chapter as a sophomore.
Assistant Director of the Access to Justice
Shayla Schlossenberg co-founded NYU
The chapter is currently working with the
Institute at Seattle University School of Law
administration to improve harm reduction
and co-taught Law and Social Movements
and education on campus, specifically by
as an adjunct professor. Patricia has been
doing “Hydration Stations” at school concerts
an active advocate for social change for over
and bringing speakers to campus to discuss
a decade and received her B.A. from Calvin
the opioid epidemic.
College in 2004 and graduated Magna Cum
Reduction, a syringe exchange in New York
Eric E. Sterling ‘98 has been a key
Laude from Seattle University School of Law
City, and then returned to HIPS to work in
supporter of SSDP since its inception and
daytime direct service. In Shanghai, she works
has served on the board of directors since
As the chapter leader for Reed College,
on educational materials about sex work and
2004. He has been an attorney for forty
Logan Tibbetts focused on expanding
drug use, and is completing an oral history of
years and was a student activist at Haverford
his chapter's harm reduction projects.
service provision for sex workers and queer
College (’73) and Villanova Law School (’76).
This included expanding their provision of
folk. Her more-ambitious agendas include
He was a public defender in the late 1970s.
free drug testing kits to the student body,
prison abolition, sex work decriminalization,
In the 1980s, he was counsel to the U.S.
connecting with other local groups like
and single-handedly destroying the DC
House of Representatives Committee on the
Portland People's Outreach Project, as well
Streetcar.
Judiciary, responsible for drugs, gun control,
as providing a safe space with resources
Arnold Schroeder is a community
pornography, money laundering, organized
and information during social events where
crime, and other issues. He is Executive
alcohol and other drug use were common.
Director and co-founder of the Criminal
In the past, Logan has volunteered with
Justice Policy Foundation, and also co-
Dancesafe PDX. After completing his
founded other reform organizations. Eric is a
undergraduate degree, he hopes to research
recipient of the NORML Lifetime Achievement
topics at the intersection of drug policy and
Award.
neurobiology (including the neurobiology
deforestation projects. Arnold was a lead
Katie Stone '09 is a former chapter leader
of addictions and ketamine therapy for
organizer in Break Free Pacific Northwest,
from UC Davis who is currently serving as
a mass action with over 3,000 people that
an SSDP Board member. A life long drug
Sam Tracy ‘09 was introduced to SSDP
lead to a 36-hour blockade of oil train tracks
policy activist, she found SSDP early, but
as a freshman at UConn, where there was
headed into the Tesoro and Shell oil refineries
became heavily involved after a medical
already a strong chapter. With UConn SSDP,
in Annacortes, in coordination with a global
crisis during her Junior year. Since then, she’s
he led successful campaigns for marijuana
effort to transition away from the fossil fuel
worked on a wide range drug policy reform
decriminalization and medical marijuana at
industry in May of 2016.
issues through DPA, The California Cannabis
the state level, and equalizing marijuana and
Adam J. Smith, J.D. ‘98 got hooked on
Industry Association, California’s Office of
alcohol on campus. He served on SSDP’s
the Governor, and The Arcview Group. Katie
board of directors from 2012-2014, including
is currently conducting research for her
a term as chair, overseeing both the search
graduate thesis on issues of sustainability
for a new Executive Director and the creation
in the cannabis industry, and is completing
of the Board of Trustees. He now spends
her Master’s capstone project by launching
his time doing business development for
Shanghai SSDP in 2016. She began her harm reduction career and drug policy interests as a Prevention Services intern at HIPS, a harm reduction organization in Washington, DC. She later worked at St. Ann's Corner of Harm
organizer with Portland Rising Tide working to confront the root causes of climate change through direct action. Arnold has been part of over 25 direct action and policy campaigns across the United States to intervene in fossil fuel infrastructure expansion and
drug reform in law school in 1993. In 1996, he launched the Week Online at DRCNet, the first online newsmagazine devoted to drug policy. Two years later, he created the Higher Education Act Reform campaign, which won
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contributor to Marijuana Today.
in 2011.
depression).
4Front Ventures, one of the nation’s leading
Beau Whitney has a unique blend of high
through student government to fully endorse
marijuana consulting firms, and directing the
tech business operations skills, economics,
marijuana legalization. Under his leadership in
Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana.
policy analysis, and cannabis industry
2014, UConn SSDP was awarded “Outstanding
Sanho Tree is a Fellow at the Institute for
experiences. He is the former chief operations
Chapter” and “The Morgan Lesko Online
officer of a vertically integrated, publicly traded
Activism Award.”
cannabis company, with growing, extraction,
Rachel Wissner ‘11 is the Outreach
Policy Studies and has been Director of its Drug Policy Project since 1998. A former
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military and diplomatic historian, his current work encompasses the reform of both international and domestic drug policies by promoting alternatives to the failed prohibitionist model. In recent years the project has focused on ending the damage caused by the drug wars in Colombia, Bolivia,
edible manufacturing and wholesale and retail distribution operations. His white papers analyzing the cannabis market have been referenced in Forbes Magazine, the US News and World report and in USA today. Beau has provided policy recommendations at the state and national levels and is considered an
Associate for Family Law and Cannabis Alliance, a member of SSDP’s Board of Directors, and the former chapter leader at SUNY New Paltz. Since getting involved with SSDP in 2011, she has worked on campuswide harm reduction efforts and multiple campaigns to change campus policy, including
Mexico, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.
authority on cannabis economics.
Establishing humane and sustainable
Allison Wilens ‘11 is the Clinical
which resulted in a SUNY Board of Trustees
alternatives to the drug war fits into the IPS
Study Associate at MAPS Public Benefit
vote to end all discrimination against college
mandate as one of the major contemporary
Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary of
applicants with prior criminal convictions. As
social justice issues at home and abroad.
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic
Outreach Associate for Family Law & Cannabis
He has been featured in more than a dozen
Studies (MAPS) responsible for conducting
Alliance, she works to provide information
documentaries and frequently lectures at
MAPS' clinical trial programs. She began
and non-legal assistance to parents facing
universities and conferences around the
supporting the MAPS clinical team in 2014
discriminatory CPS intervention based on their
world.
after graduating from Tufts University with
cannabis use.
Chris Van Hook is a nationally recognized
a B.S. in Biopsychology. While Co-President
David Wrathall is an assistant professor
expert on agricultural regulations, organic farming and cannabis. He is both a USDA Accredited Organic Certifier and a California cannabis compliance attorney. He is the Program Director of the Clean Green Certification Program, a Nationally-recognized cannabis certification program based on the USDA National Organic Program. In addition to organic methods of cultivation, the program
of the Tufts University SSDP chapter, Allison worked with fellow students to present a datadriven case to the administration for Tufts to adopt a Medical Amnesty Policy, which it did in 2013. Allison is passionate about regenerative culture and restorative justice, believes laughter is entactogenic, and is deeply grateful to MAPS and SSDP for continuing to expand her consciousness around what determined
includes sustainability requirements such as
young people can accomplish.
having a legal source of water and a carbon
Tyler S. Williams ‘11 got involved with
reduction program. Chris is now certifying
drug policy when he joined the campus SSDP
both medical and adult-use cannabis in
chapter as a freshman at the University of
California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and
Connecticut in 2011. He now works for SSDP
Washington, with new states added to the
as a Regional Outreach Coordinator for the
program as regulations develop. He has also
Midwest, Mountain, and Heartland regions.
been a lobbyist in the fields of aquaculture,
He also produces a drug policy podcast,
agriculture, and environmental industries.
This Week in Drugs. While on campus,
Haven Wheelock is the syringe exchange
Tyler worked with state advocates to help
program coordinator for Portland’s Outside In which serves young people experiencing homelessness and other marginalized people to move toward improved health and selfsufficiency.
pass Connecticut’s medical marijuana law. He also participated in campaigns to end mandatory minimum sentencing and racially discriminatory drug-free school zone policies. In his senior year, he wrote and passed a bill
the successful SUNY Ban the Box initiative
in Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. He studies how narco-trafficking in Central America is related to deforestation.
Rachelle Yeung ‘11 began her career in drug policy reform when she co-founded a chapter of SSDP at the University of Colorado Law School, and then worked closely with the historic campaign to legalize marijuana in Colorado in 2012. Upon graduation, Rachelle moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as a legislative analyst at the Marijuana Policy Project, where she played a key role in passing marijuana policy reform in Maryland, New York, and Philadelphia, PA. She brings a racial justice, criminal justice, and feminist perspective to all of her work, and proudly identifies as a Social Justice Warrior. Rachelle hopes that the momentum behind ending marijuana prohibition will lead to ending prohibition against all drugs. Rachelle currently has the honor of being the public policy counsel for the ACLU of Maryland.
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MAPS + MISCELL ANEOUS
18
Oregon's Drug Laws
Need help?
Marijuana is legal in Oregon for those 21 and over, but public
SSDP Rangers ensure the safety and security of the SSDP
use and indoor smoking remain illegal. Though advocates
community every night and are available to assist with concerns
are making progress toward decriminalizing other drugs,
or contact SSDP staff as needed. SSDP’s Emergency Hotline will
possession of Schedule I and II drugs remains a felony. Be
connect you with a member of SSDP’s staff 24/7. Dial 202-393-
sensible.
5280, ext 99 to be connected to a staff member.
Download the conference app to view sessions, speakers, and events at ssdp.org/ssdp2017/app
Local Mental Health and Substance Use Support Portland People’s Outreach Project syringe exchange, naloxone access, and other harm reduction resources (503) 765-7767 ppop@peoplesharmreductionalliance.org Multnomah County 24/7 Mental Health
SMART Recovery Meetings
GRASP (Grief Recovery After A Substance
Friday 12:00pm-1:00pm
Passing): Portland Oregon Chapter
Portland Community College (PCC)
Amanda Markus 360-521-2858
Cascade campus
amandamarkus@hotmail.com
705 North Killingsworth Street (3rd floor
contact for locations and times
conference room of Student Union building)
National Alliance for Mental Illness
Facilitator: Candyce Scott
24/7 crisis text line
candyce.scott@pcc.edu
Text NAMI to 741-741
Crisis intervention hotline: (503) 988-4888 Toll-free: (800) 716-9769 Hearing-Impaired dial: 711
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CONGR ATUL ATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S SSDP AWARD NOMINEES! Stuart Ableson Goodwill
Dave Borden Friend of SSDP
Dr. Bronner’s Marijuana Business Daily MassRoots Elizabeth Nichols & The Laurel Rosebud Fund
Scott Bernstein Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Victor Pinho Lauren Vazquez
Scott & Cyan Banister Campus Change
Fundraising
Dublin City University Eckerd College University of Melbourne University of Texas Austin Virginia Tech
Change Beyond Campus Ferris State University Mankato State University SUNY New Paltz University of Georgia University of Massachusetts Boston University of North Georgia, Gainesville
DARE CUNY Baruch Rebecca Dayan Jan Farias Robert Hofmann University of California Berkeley University of Massachusetts Boston
Estudiantes por una Política Sensata de Drogas, México Kent State University University of Texas Austin
Morgan Lesko Online Activism Arizona State University Estudiantes por una Política Sensata de Drogas, México Napa Valley College University of Nevada Las Vegas
A.Kathryn Parker Outstanding Alumnus (in service to SSDP) Mikayla Hellwich Kat Humphries Katie Stone Jesse Stout Rachel Wissner
Outstanding Chapter (2 winners will be selected) Estudiantes por una Política Sensata de Drogas, México Cork Institute of Technology Florida International University Kent State University New York University Reed College SSDP Ghana SUNY New Paltz University of California Berkeley University of California Santa Cruz University of Central Florida University of North Georgia Gainesville University of Texas Austin Virginia Tech
Outstanding Student Activist Joseph Gilmore James Gould Stephanie Hamborsky Jordan Hobdy Robert Hofmann Eleanor Hulm Severin Mangold Brett Phelps Leland Radovanovic
Outstanding Alumnus (in service to drug policy)
Outstanding Student Organizer
Tom Angell Graham de Barra Sam Chapman Mikayla Hellwich Anthony Johnson
Juana A. Boateng Kyle Gentle Maryssa Pallis Ashleigh Dennis Zane Bader
Jared Moffat Rebecca Nieves-McGoldrick Evan Nison Jason Ortiz Amanda Reiman Eric Stevens
Penny Hill Stephen Oguntoyinbo Abigale Brohard
Rising Star - chapter DePaul University Houston Community College NYU Shanghai Texas State University Vassar College Volcano Vista High School
Rising Star - individual Taylor Giamo Chris Mendez Hunter Knight Ariefa Bockarie Kumara Jonathan Stockwell Amy Hildebrand
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING. EVEN A BABY SHARK IS STILL A FUCKING SHARK.
#SSDP2018 Conference & Lobby Day March 2-5, 2018 Baltimore, Maryland Washington, DC
1011 O Street NW #1, Washington, DC 20001 ssdp@ssdp.org | (202) 393-5280 | ssdp.org