Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)

Today at #SSDP we are reflecting on all that we have to be thankful for this year. We are grateful for our student and community chapters, our board of directors, advisory council, donors, and volunteers. We knew the fight to end the War on Drugs wouldn't be easy, but together we have made strides! Your support allows us to continue this important work, and for that we thank you. #gratitudepost

A wonderful opportunity for our early career SSDP fam!

Thanks to Tricycle Day for featuring our Executive Director, Kat Murti, in their Psychonaut POV newsletter segment. Dig into the Q&A here: https://buff.ly/3Ovjlb4 #ssdp #startmakingsense

We love to see our work at #SSDP featured in Rolling Stone! #activisminaction #startmakingsense

Want to know more about our team and our takeaways from the hearing? Check out my interview feature with Psychedelic Alpha ?? https://lnkd.in/eQfU5VrE

Incredible article in Rolling Stone today featuring me Kat Ebert. Gina Giorgio, Hena Malik Basak Sarah Noon and Adam Eidinger protesting Biden 2 years ago with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)! HUGE thanks to Senator Elizabeth Warren for her efforts in organizing this congressional letter to the President supporting clemency! So many of my fave congressional leaders joined on in support. COME ON JOE LET EM GO! Big ups to Cat Packer and the whole team Drug Policy Alliance for all their hard work behind the scenes to keep the pressure on! “Lawmakers point out that while the pardons “relieved of some collateral consequences that flowed from their marijuana convictions,” they have “resulted in virtually no releases from prison, because few individuals were in federal prisons for these low-level offenses.” They point to estimates that at least 3,000 individuals still remain in federal prison for other marijuana-related offenses. “The Biden Administration has the opportunity to further reduce the harms of marijuana’s criminalization before the end of this Administration,” the lawmakers write, requesting that Biden “issue broader clemency — including another round of pardons and commutations to reduce sentences or end terms of incarceration — for individuals convicted of other cannabis-related offenses,” as well as issuing a memorandum deprioritizing the prosecution of individuals and businesses for “or state-legal marijuana activity.” Full article at: https://lnkd.in/ed-Xbbc3 https://lnkd.in/ed-Xbbc3

We're streaming live with our friend Hamilton Morris right now on the battle to keep two important and promising psychedelics - DOI & DOC - out of federal prohibition and in the hands of researchers (where they belong!) Tap in!

I am so unbelievably honored to have been a part of this team. For the past year, we have worked with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and volunteered after work hours for a historical hearing against the DEA’s attempt to place two VITAL research tools, DOI and DOC, into Schedule I classification. These drugs have been foundational in neuroscience research for decades, and much of what we know about psychedelics and serotonin is because of the research access to them. Last week, we finally had our court hearing at the DEA headquarters and I am so proud of our effort. Our attorneys, Brett Phelps and Robert Rush volunteered an unbelievable amount of time to to this fight. We had an amazing team of scientists, many not featured in this photo because we had to split our time in court so that we could make it work with our research schedules. Elijah Ullman, PhD and Alaina Jaster led the way. Raul Ramos, Joseph Hennessey, and many other expert witnesses provided our expertise. The SSDP, policy, journalism, and media leaders were extraordinary, working overtime to bring this team together and advocate for sensible drug policy. Thank you Kat Murti, Gina Giorgio, Jack Gorsline, Jason Ortiz, Callie Hoffmann, J.D., and Hamilton Morris. This endeavor was a monumental effort for everyone involved, completely voluntary, and all for the benefit of research, medicine, and public health. Thank you to everyone involved and all who supported us!

This past week I was in Arlington, VA testifying at DEA HQ in opposition of the scheduling of two psychedelic research chemicals DOI/DOC. With an amazing team of scientists, lawyers, and advocates, the Science Policy Committee of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) was able to mark history and speak truth to power. We won’t find out the recommendation from the judge for a few months but we’re feeling hopeful that our voices were heard. It’s been an incredible experience and probably the highlight of my career, as I’m now a federal court recognized expert in Neuroscience & Substance Use Disorders. I’ll be posting a recap of the details on my podcast Psychedelic Brain Science this weekend featuring Jack Gorsline ??

Advocacy requires funding. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is doing critical work. Please consider supporting them. Thanks Kat Murti for your hard work as captain steering the ahip.?? https://lnkd.in/ezszqiub