About - SSDP

Our Mission

SSDP’s mission is to empower the next generation of drug policy leaders, and that means creating real platforms for students, young professionals, and emerging advocates to step up, share their ideas, and shape the conversation.

Our Values

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact of drug misuse on our communities, but who also know that the “War on Drugs” is failing our generation and our society.

SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future. SSDP does this while fighting back against counterproductive policies – in particular, those that directly harm students and youth.

SSDP neither condones nor condemns drug use. Instead, we respect the right of individuals to make decisions about their own health and well-being. We promote youth civic engagement as a critical tool in reforming drug policy. SSDP respects the diverse experiences and identities of our constituents. We develop leaders who advocate for policy changes based on justice, liberty, compassion, and reason.

Shared power and authority

Youth-controlled agenda

Collaboration and partnership

Constituent-specific strategies

Learning

Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism

SSDP’s Structure as a Grassroots Organization

Through SSDP, young people acquire essential community organizing and activist knowledge and skills and forge bonds to support lifelong advocacy. SSDP members practice self-governance by voting on resolutions and electing student Directors of the Board, who fill two-thirds of the seats on the board.

The Board of Directors is responsible for organizational governance, fundraising, and strategic direction. Directors select and oversee SSDP’s Executive Director, who is responsible for tending to both the day-to-day operations of the organization and its long-term direction. The Executive Director oversees SSDP staff, who exist to serve and represent SSDP’s chapters and activists.

Legally, SSDP consists of two separate, distinct entities – Students for Sensible Drug Policy Foundation and Students for Sensible Drug Policy Inc. The former – as a 501(c)(3) organization – engages in education and outreach. Donations to SSDP Foundation are tax-deductible. SSDP Inc. – as a 501(c)(4) organization – engages in advocacy or attempts to affect change to law and policy. Accordingly, donations to SSDP Inc. are not tax-deductible. Click here to read SSDP Foundation’s bylaws.