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TABLE OF CONTENTS
03 05 15
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA
SPEAKER BIOS
25 27 28
LOCAL INFORMATION
JOB FAIR
SPONSORS OUTREACH RECRUITMENT & DIVERSITY
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
3
FRIDAY: 09.26.2014
• Building a Legally Sustainable Cannabis Market • Industrial Hemp: Advocacy and legislation
5:00pm – 8:00pm Registration 5:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome reception and regional networking with light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. 8:00pm – 10:00pm Congress I (students only)
• The Right on Drugs: Working with new & old allies 4:30pm – 5:45pm Breakout sessions • Alumni in the Cannabis Industry II: Building an industry career out of your reform work.
12:00pm – 1:15pm Breakout sessions • When Diplomacy Fails: How to Fight Back Against a Difficult Administration • Online Organizing: Tools, tips, and best practices • Privilege and the War on Drugs 1:30pm – 2:45pm Lunch (History of SSDP Plenary) 3:00pm – 4:15pm Breakout sessions
8:00pm – 10:00pm Alumni dinner spon-
• Putting Down the Handcuffs: Steps
• Film the Police: Using Radical Tech-
sored by Berkeley Patients Group
Towards Removing Criminal Penalties
nology to Watch the Watchers
Piola (1550 Wilson Blvd)
for Drug Use & Possession in the U.S.
• Women, Families, and the War on
• Protecting Medical Marijuana Pa-
Drugs
tients on Campus: A strategy for policy
• What About the Children?: Families
change
and the War on Drugs
SATURDAY: 09.27.2014 9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibitor Hall, Free Meeting Space, and Job
• How Harm Reduction is Helping to 6:00pm – 6:30pm Closing keynote
End Homelessness
speaker: Troy Dayton
• Getting the Word Out: Tips for tak-
6:30pm – 8:30pm Outreach Recruitment
ing over campus media
and Diversity Meet Up and Dinner Melee Bistro
Fair sponsored by NCIA 8:30pm – 9:30pm Awards ceremony 9:00am – 9:30am Breakfast 9:00am – 9:45am Breakfast discussion
lobby day participants) • Developing Sensible Careers:
photo booth, cash bar
Insights into SSDP’s career services program and alumni association
9:45am – 10:15am Opening keynote
6:00pm – 6:30pm Closing keynote speaker: Neill Franklin
speaker: Rob Kampia
• Movement + Industry: Maintaining
• Lobby Day Training (Mandatory for
9:30pm – 1:00am Live music, dance party,
with Eric Sterling
10:30am – 11:45am Breakout sessions
4:30pm – 5:45pm Breakout sessions
SUNDAY: 09.28.2014
6:30pm – 7:30pm Closing Ceremonies
values in a post-prohibition world • We’re Not Done Yet! The importance
9:00am – 6:00pm Registration, Exhibi-
of activism in the age of legalization
tor Hall, Free Meeting Space, and Job
• How to be a better advocate: Commu-
Fair sponsored by NCIA
nity Voice & Drug Policy • From Grassroots to the UN, ending the War on Drugs globally 12:00pm – 1:15pm Breakout sessions • Media Relations 101 with the Experts • Calling for Help Shouldn’t be a Crime: Successful 911 Good Samaritan
9:00am – 9:30am Breakfast 9:00am – 9:45am Breakfast discussion with Betty Aldworth
and breakfast 9:30am-4:30pm Individual lobby day meetings with elected officials on
speakers: Alyson Martin & Nushin Rashidian
Capitol Hill
10:30am – 11:45am Breakout sessions • Live Music & Drugs: The Conversation
• America’s Longest War: Fighting
We Need to Be Having
drug prohibition then and now
• Unique Perspectives: The Hidden Con-
3:00pm – 4:15pm Breakout sessions
8:30am - 9:00am Lobby day briefing
9:45am – 10:15am Opening keynote
Policy Strategies
1:30pm – 2:45pm Lunch (Congress II)
MONDAY: 09.29.2014
sequences of the War on Drugs • From Students to Activists: Organizing to change policy
• Alumni in the Cannabis Industry I:
• LSSDP Presents Drug Policy Lawyer-
Working in the industry while further-
ing: Opportunities and Conflicts in an
ing drug policy reform
Evolving Landscape
4
DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA 5
FRIDAY: 09.26.2014
SATURDAY: 09.27.2014
years later, the legal marijuana industry -- born from the movement built in a home kitchen -- boasts thousands of
5:00P - 8:00P Registration Promenade 2nd Floor Lobby
businesses, tens of thousands of employ-
9:00A - 9:30A Breakfast -Rosslyn Ballroom
Rosslyn Ballroom
and an annual market estimated to reach $2.5 billion in 2014. This panel will explore the intersections and contradictions of the marijuana policy reform movement and the legal marijuana industry. How
5:00P - 8:00P Welcome Reception
ees, millions of patients and consumers,
9:00A - 9:45A
does the marijuana industry contribute to movement goals, and how might it hold us back? Does the industry really fulfill
Breakfast with Eric Sterling
the promise of a post-prohibition world?
Meet and greet reception for all confer-
Eric Sterling
ence attendees.
Rosslyn Ballroom
to the marijuana industry to ensure it
Join legendary drug policy reformer
upholds goals of reform? And how does
Eric Sterling in the ballroom for break-
the movement protect itself from having
fast, where he will answer questions and
it’s goals usurped by industry?
8:00P - 10:00P SSDP Student Congress - Part I
discuss topics of particular interest to
Rosslyn Ballroom
attendees -- and Eric -- in an informal,
During SSDP Congress: Part I, attendees
broad-ranging conversation.
will be introduced to the student candidates running to serve on SSDP’s Board
9:45A - 10:15A
of Directors. The candidates running for Opening Keynote: The Future of
will deliver brief speeches, followed by
Marijuana Legalization
a question and answer session in which
Rob Kampia
students, SSDP staff, and current board
Rosslyn Ballroom
tions regarding their qualifications to serve on the Board. It is strongly encouraged that all students 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.
8:00P - 10:00P Alumni Dinner Sponsored by Berkeley Patients Group Piola (restaurant) 1550 WIlson Blvd, Arlington, VA
movement continues to grow, there is a concern that interest and involvement in reform work will start to dimingetting started. This panel will compare the scope and context of reform work
years. Rob will discuss both the easier-
in different parts of the US, discuss how
to-predict ballot initiatives and the more
advocacy is changing with the evolution
tenuous state legislative efforts poised
of progressive marijuana laws, and exam-
to pass marijuana-related legislation
ine what we can do to support activists
through 2017. Also, Rob will discuss when
working in states with overly restrictive,
he expects Congress will change federal
punitive marijuana policies.
law -- and why.
6 10:30A - 11:45A
How to be a better advocate: Community Voice and Drug Policy Irina Alexander, Cyndee Clay, Nick Rosen-
Movement & Industry: Maintaining re-
berg, Kellen Russionello, Jasmine Tyler
form values in a post-prohibition world
Club
years of outstanding alumni. This year’s
Shenandoah Suite
intergenerational gathering of friends!
As progress in the marijuana law reform
marijuana campaigns over the next four
Kris Krane, Kris Lotlikar
8pm. You won’t want to miss this warm,
Langston
ish, but we’re not done yet - we’re just
invited to join us in celebrating SSDP’s 16
Restaurant in downtown Arlington, VA at
Sabrina Fendrick, Kandice Hawes, Amber
the future of Marijuana Policy Project’s
Betty Aldworth, Troy Dayton, Steve Fox,
tients Group and will take place at Piola
activism in the age of legalization
Rob Kampia will provide a window to
SSDP Alumni conference attendees are
dinner is sponsored by Berkeley Pa-
We’re Not Done Yet! The importance of
Dogwood
Student Director positions on the Board
members will ask the candidates ques-
What can advocates and activists bring
This session will discuss the importance of community voice to drug policy reform efforts. An issue facing many social jus-
The “next great American industry”
tice movements is the failure to properly
started modestly enough, with infused
involve the communities affected by the
brownies delivered, free of charge, to
injustices while we search for solutions.
people dying from HIV/AIDS and cancer
The goal is to provide students with a
in San Francisco in the 1980’s. Thirty
Rosslyn Ballroom
better understanding of how to appropriately and meaningfully include communities affected by unjust drug policies in the process of social change. Models and real world examples will outline the success of this practice. A discussion of privilege, community empowerment, diversity, and oppression will set stu-
Calling for Help Shouldn’t be a Crime:
During SSDP Congress: Part II, students
Successful 911 Good Samaritan policy
in active chapters will vote on their top
strategies
five choices to elect new Student Direc-
Romain Bonilla, Rose Bono, Scott Cecil,
tors that will serve a two-year term on
Jeremy Sharp
SSDP’s Board of Directors. You must be
Dogwood
present at this Congress session in order
dents on their path to greater community
Overdose deaths are now the leading
impact.
cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have passed 911 Good
From Grassroots to the UN, ending the
Samaritan, Medical Amnesty and/or Nal-
War on Drugs globally
oxone Access laws in the past decade.
Michael Krawitz, Ciaran Maher, Christian
Recently, SSDP chapters have been
Sederberg, Olivia Teehan
instrumental in helping legislators intro-
Georgetown
duce and ultimately enact these laws at
As much as domestic drug policy reform can make tremendous differences in individual countries, justice will not be achieved until the global drug war is replaced with sensible policy. This session is a look at the problems with, and ways to challenge, the war on drugs globally. Case studies from around the world, the position of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the opportu-
the state level and in pursuing similar campus-level policy changes. This panel will feature SSDP students who will share their experiences having been an integral part of these campaigns, from introducing legislation to legislators, building
will be discussed.
proposed legislation and pursuing public awareness campaigns after implementation of these laws.
America’s Longest War: Fighting Drug Prohibition Then and Now
7
Krayewski, Katherine Mangu-Ward Club
Media Relations 101
When the War on Drugs started in the
Betty Aldworth, Tony Newman, Mike
1970’s many groups who opposed the
Riggs, Mason Tvert
senseless policy, like Reason, had few
Shenandoah Suite
weapons outside of print journalism with
Messaging against the War on Drugs is nuanced, complicated, and full of potential pitfalls, but with a basic media strategy, solid knowledge about the ideas and arguments, and lots of practice, you can capture media attention on campus and in your communities to help push the envelope on any aspect of drug policy reform. Hear from seasoned experts about crafting media strategies to
which to offer criticism. However, rapid advancements in technology generated cutting edge mediums of communication to reach new audiences and transform public opinion. In this session, we’ll learn how Reason and other advocacy groups continue to fight against America’s Longest War in print and online, through video journalism, investigative reporting, and public policy research.
enhance your efforts, capturing earned media, effective storytelling, rocking an interview, and, of course, those moments each of our panelists wish weren’t on film.
cannot attend the conference). Additionally, the Organizational Structure Evaluation Committee (OSEC) of the Board will be presenting the new proposed SSDP bylaws, to be voted on by the student body during this session. Active chapters will also have the opportunity to propose nonbinding resolutions to influence the direction of the organization, if adopted by the student body. Non-student attendees are invited to quietly observe Congress or pick up a box lunch and find a place to eat nearby.
3:00P - 4:15P Alumni in the Cannabis Industry I: Working in the industry while further-
Meredith Bragg, Lauren Galik, Ed
12:00P - 1:15P
system, but only for active chapters who
political coalitions, lobbying in favor of
nities presented by the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session
to vote (there will be an online voting
1:30P - 2:45P
ing drug policy reform Michael Blunk, Sam Chapman, Trevor Hosterman, Kat Humphries, Sam Tracy Shenandoah Suite Want to join the new and expanding legal marijuana industry? Learn from SSDP alumni that work full-time managing award winning cultivation facilities, changing medical and adult-use marijuana laws, and helping to build the next big cannabis business! Speakers will discuss the paths they took to get to where they are today and how to leverage the SSDP network to make valuable job connections. Throughout the discussion, alumni will talk about how their day-to-day work helps to create a responsible industry that furthers their own personal goals in drug policy reform.
Building a Legally Sustainable Cannabis Market Brandon Paroly, Josh Kappel, Khusihid
Lunch + SSDP Student Congress - Part II
Khoja, Andrew Livingston, Mizti Vaughn
--
Dogwood
After college, many of us will start
fold, the scope of proposed policy solu-
support and drug treatment services,
careers in the burgeoning cannabis
tions continues to widen. What initiatives
can help minimize the health harms of
industry, including running business
do activists and policy wonks from the
drug misuse, such as overdose, disease
that provide cannabis and other ancil-
right support, where do the left and right
and addiction, while substantially reduc-
lary goods and services, and providing
differ on drug policy, and how can these
ing the number of people swept into the
legal services to those businesses. Here,
newfound allies better collaborate on
criminal justice system.
a member of Law Students for Sensible
this policy issue? Protecting Medical Marijuana Patients
Drug Policy will question four attorneys about their roles in and advice for the cannabis industry. What banking and other federal regulatory enforcement issues does the cannabis industry specially face? What entity formation and business licensing does the cannabis industry specially face? What are current state and federal lobbying issues, and what are the next steps? What special corporate law and other considerations affect
4:30P - 5:45P Alumni in the Cannabis Industry II: Building an industry career out of your reform work
legal, universities have yet to provide any protection or reasonable accommo-
Shenandoah Suite
dation for students that are legitimate
for careers in the cannabis industry and
alumni that work full-time creating can-
in business law?
nabis edibles, changing medical and adult-use marijuana laws, and representing businesses in statehouses and the
Industrial Hemp Advocacy & Legislation
national’s capital! Speakers will discuss
Ben Droz
the lessons they learned and how to
Club
use SSDP connections to find jobs in
U.S. exceeded $580 million in 2012, for high nutrition food products, building
this exciting new field. Throughout the discussion, panelists will talk about the different ways they utilize skills gained from SSDP and their drug policy reform work towards a career in the expanding cannabis economy.
materials, body care, and much more. The past year has been monumental
Putting Down the Handcuffs: Steps To-
for the hemp movement, since pass-
wards Removing Criminal Penalties for
ing of Section 7606 of the Farm Bill, an
Drug Use and Possession in the United
amendment that defines industrial hemp
States
and allows for pilot programs. Hear the
Kellen Russionello, Jeronimo Saldaña
latest news and learn how to get involved
Dogwood
with Ben Droz, legislative liaison for Vote Hemp.
Current U.S. drug policies have not only failed to curb drug use but have also had a devastating impact on families and
The Right on Drugs: Working With New & Old Allies Lauren Galik, Ann Lee, Tim Lynch, Kat Murti, Vikrant Reddy Georgetown
Club
delsohn, Evan Nison
marijuana industry? Learn from SSDP
history. Sales for hemp products in the
ling, Tyler Vile
bert, Andrew Livingston, Lauren Men-
clients? What advice do students need
throughout human history, and American
Thalia Perez, Nick Rosenberg, Eric Ster-
In states where medical marijuana is
Want to build a career in the new legal
varieties of cannabis, has been grown
change
John Decker, Evan Eisenberg, Brian Gil-
attorneys advising cannabis business
Industrial Hemp, the non-psychoactive
on Campus: A strategy for policy
communities around the country. The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate the tragic consequences of criminalizing drug use, and to highlight the myriad benefits that eliminating criminal penalties for minor possession and use
Ending the War on Drugs is no longer ex-
can offer U.S. communities. The presen-
clusively the purview of the left. As more
tation will demonstrate that decriminal-
and more libertarians and conservatives
ization, when coupled with a substantial
are brought into the drug policy reform
expansion of effective health, social
patients. Universities are currently constrained by a section of the Higher Education Act that, if violated, could result in the loss of substantial federal funding. This session will provide a strategy for implementing a reasonable accommodation policy that will protect medical marijuana patients from harsh university sanctions in states with medical marijuana programs. The strategy intends to consider the concerns of campus administrations, but argues that in failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for patients, universities are discriminating based on ability.
6:00P - 6:30P KEYNOTE: Please Finish Off Marijuana Prohibition So We Can Focus On Larger Injustices Troy Dayton Rosslyn Ballroom SSDP co-founder Troy Dayton will explore what it’s like to have an unpopular political opinion that changes to a popular one. Most current SSDP student members haven’t been advocates in a time when cannabis policy reform was unpopular, but know well how challenging it can be to advocate for other drug policy reform issues. Cannabis policy can be a beacon of hope for what might be possible for other issues, so Troy will talk about the inner life of the activist along
8
the various stages of acceptance of unpopular views.
SUNDAY: 09.28.2014
people choose to use drugs at live music events. And yet it’s often incredibly difficult to share the information that people
6:30P - 8:30P
9:00A - 9:30A
need to stay safe. What drug laws and policies are behind this attitude and what
Outreach Rectruitment and Diversity
Breakfast
can be done to change them? What
(ORD) Dinner Meet-Up
--
groups are already working in the field
--
Rosslyn Ballroom
at events and how can you get involved? And what do you need to know to make
Mele Bistro Interested in broadening perspectives in SSDP and the drug policy reform movement? Join members of SSDP’s Outreach, Recruitment & Diversity (ORD) Committee at nearby restaurant Mele Bistro (1723 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) for
safer, healthier choices for yourself and
9:00A - 9:45A
at live music events? Breakfast with Betty Aldworth Betty Aldworth
Unique Perspectives: The Hidden Con-
Rosslyn Ballroom
sequences of the War on Drugs Anthony Belotti, Kat Murti, Jeronimno
an open conversation about outreach
Join SSDP executive director Betty Ald-
to underrepresented stakeholders and
worth in the ballroom for breakfast, where
ORD’s role in facilitating diversity. Meet
she will answer questions and discuss top-
us in the hotel lobby at 6:30 (after the
ics of particular interest to attendees in an
Much of the fallout from the drug war
keynote) to walk or cab over together—or
informal, broad-ranging conversation.
-- increased drug usage and violence,
9:45A - 10:15A 8:30P - 1:00A Reception (Awards, Dance Party) -Rosslyn Ballroom Join us in the ballroom for the SSDP Awards Ceremony from 8:30-9:30, where we’ll recognize members of the SSDP network for their outstanding work. Then, sing along and dance to an evening of celebrating with a dance party and live music. The Wets, a band comprised of SSDP alumni, will perform high energy covers of songs from the 60’s through today. Take a photo in the photo booth to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime experience! A cash bar will be available for those 21 and older.
Saldaña, Kylee Sunderlin, Eapen Thampy Dogwood
decreased civil liberties -- has been well
join us on your own. All are welcome.
9
your friends when it comes to drug use
documented, but not every negative side effect of the War on Drugs has been giv-
Keynote: Covering Cannabis
en the attention it is properly due. This
Alyson Martin, Nushin Rashidian
panel will cover the intersection between
Rosslyn Ballroom
the War on Drugs and animal abuse,
Nushin Rashidian and Alyson Martin, coauthors of A New Leaf: The End of Cannabis Prohibition (The New Press, 2014), will present a conversation called “Covering Cannabis.” They have a comprehensive and vivid understanding of cannabis in the United States after traveling
asset forfeiture, immigration, parenting rights, and more. From Students to Activists: SSDP chapter building tips from the experts jake Agliata, Scott Cecil, Drew Stromberg Club
30,000 miles by car, zig zagging across
SSDP’s Outreach Team will talk with stu-
the country to report for their book. They
dents about how to effectively organize
will discuss how the media landscape
their chapters in order to enact policy
has changed in the past five years and
change on the campus, state, and nation-
will share their experience as journalists
al levels. Topics to be covered include:
who have written about cannabis and
recruiting & retaining chapter members,
drug policy for The New York Times, The
engaging people on campus, relation-
Atlantic, The Nation, and Esquire, among
ship and coalition building, resources
other outlets. www.anewleafbook.com
available to students, and where to start when you want to enact policy change.
10:30A - 11:45A Live Music and Drugs: The Conversation We Need to Be Having Brian Gilbert, Brooke Gilbert, Dede Goldsmith, Mikayla Hellwich, Stefanie Jones Shenandoah Suite Whether it’s hip-hop, jam bands, EDM or any other genre, we know that some
LSSDP Presents Drug Policy Lawyering: Opportunities and conflicts in an evolving landscape Jess Cochrane, Alex Kriet, Reid Murdoch, Kellen Russionello, Jesse Stout, Rachelle Yeung Georgetown Legal practitioners now have more opportunities than ever to push back on
prohibition. Criminal, health, family, cor-
into online actions that not only increase
porate/tax, housing and civil rights are
engagement and bring new supporters,
just a few of the legal fields that intersect
but have real impact.
with drug policy. From nonprofit organizing and impact litigation to direct client service, drug policy lawyering today has many faces. Hear preeminent lawyers from diverse backgrounds describe how their respective practices relate to drug
3:00P - 4:15P
Privilege and the War On Drugs
Film the Police: Using Radical Technol-
Stephanie Izquieta, Brooke Gilbert, Fran-
ogy to Watch the Watchers
ces Fu, James Kowalsky, Rex Tai, Rachelle
Neill Franklin, Steve Silverman
Yeung
Shenandoah Suite
Club
Drug policy reformers have long
policy reform. This panel is targeted to
Prohibition was originally meant to pro-
sounded the alarm about the dangers of
current and prospective attorneys, law
mote public safety, health and wellness;
police militarization. Ferguson pushed
students, and other legal professionals,
yet the War on Drugs has criminalized
the problem to the forefront of public
though all are welcome.
medical cannabis patients and dispro-
consciousness. The first half of this panel
portionately impacted poor people of
examines how the drug war and post-9/11
color. Our drug policy reform move-
security state advanced a warrior ethic
ment began in order to combat these
that views regular people as “the enemy.”
injustices; however, in doing so, we have
The second half explores what we can
When Diplomacy Fails: How to Fight
missed the ways in which drug policy
do about it. Everyone with a smartphone
Back Against a Difficult Administration
has historically benefited people with
can expose police abuse that would have
Jake Agliata, Stacia Cosner, Catherine
race, socioeconomic, and able-bodied
previously gone unseen. Put your per-
Sevcenko, Sam Tracy
privilege. People with more privilege are
sonal technology to the test to discover
Shenandoah Suite
more likely to serve as advocates and
the best practices for capturing and se-
not only avoid the harms of, but experi-
curing video during high-intensity police
ence the benefits of, drugs and drug
encounters.
12:00P - 1:15P
We’ve all been there: you’ve spent months trying to build a positive relationship with your campus administration, but for one reason or another, they are continuing to create nonsensical roadblocks for your chapter. This session will focus on what you can do when your school’s administration is standing in the way of your SSDP chapter’s formation, operation, and/or efforts to change
policy. As a movement that prides itself on diversity, social justice, and inclusion, it will become increasingly important for young SSDP activists to take steps to ensure that their privileged voices being
issues will lead a discussion about how chapters can overcome the challenges posed by a difficult administration. We’ll also hear from a representative from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) about campus rights and freedom of speech.
practices Alec Foster, Kat Murti, Jon Perri, Drew
Fu, Sahra Kant, Kylee Sunderlin Dogwood One of the more overlooked conse-
privilege are empowered, not erased by,
quences of drug policies are the negative
our movement.
impact they have on women and families. Spanning child endangerment laws, opiate overdose and Naloxone access, child
1:30P - 2:45P
protection services, and incarcerated mothers, there are a myriad of reasons
Lunch & History of SSDP plenary
the War on Drugs has failed to protect
Stacia Cosner, Dan Goldman, Shae
the rights and safety of women and their
Gunther, Shawn Heller, Kris Krane, Kris
families around the world. In this panel,
Lotlikar, Shaleen Title
several women will share their experi-
Rosslyn Ballroom
ences and work they are doing to end
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a Online Organizing: tools, tips, and best
Betty Aldworth, Jess Cochrane, Frances
used for good and that those with less
policy. Several SSDP students and alumni who have experience dealing with these
Women, Families, and the War on Drugs
16 year old organization with a long history of building the movement to end the drug war. This panel will go back
discrimination and protect women and families in drug policy, with a discussion about how students can bring awareness to these issues.
to the early days of SSDP to examine
Getting the Word Out: Tips for taking
the circumstances that necessitated its
over campus media
founding and show how it evolved to its
Jake Agliata, Lauren Mendelsohn, Jur-
Attendees will learn about the key
current form. Told through the stories of
riaan van den Hurk, Tyler Williams
components of a successful online
how each panelist became involved in
Club
campaign and the tools that are avail-
the organization, this session will also be
able for scrappy activists and organiza-
recorded and broadcast as an episode of
tions. You’ll learn how to turn compelling
the Marijuana Today podcast.
Stromberg Dogwood
stories (the backbone of any campaign)
Whether it is radio, newspaper, TV, or blogging, being involved with campus media is a great way to get the word out
10
about your SSDP chapter and spread
Lobby Day.
news about drug policy around campus.
and the many important contributions SSDPers can continue to make.
This panel will feature several current and former chapter leaders who have Developing Sensible Careers: Insights
with their chapter’s activities. They will
into SSDP’s Career Services Program &
share their experiences and advise other
Alumni Association
students about how they can best utilize
Stacia Cosner, Dylan Schwartz, Victor
campus media to the benefit of their
Pinho
Video messages from Ethan Nadelmann,
chapters.
Dogwood
Executive Director of the Drug Policy Al-
This session will introduce alumni and How Harm Reduction is Helping to End
students to two of SSDP’s new pro-
Homelessness
grams: the Alumni Association and
Irina Alexander, James Kowalsky, Mark
Career Services. Together, these initia-
Schumann, Adam Schneider
tives will improve career opportunities
Georgetown
and post-graduation activities, providing
Harm reduction is being used around our country to engage, support, and house the most vulnerable of people experiencing homelessness. The Housing First Model (HFM) was developed to address chronic homelessness and is a harm reduction approach to providing housing, removing traditional barriers to housing like active substance use, lack of income, or criminal background. In addition to being connected with permanent housing, clients are linked with supportive services delivered from a harm reduction approach. Beyond being a more compassionate approach, these programs have generated significant cost savings. Learn about the role of harm reduction in the
alumni avenues to meaningfully continue
Lobby Day Training Betty Aldworth, Mike Liszewski, Jasmine Tyler Shenandoah Suite Lobby Day Training will provide basic lobbying skills training including how to run a meeting, how to build relationships and create allies, and why it matters. We’ll also discuss the specific bills we are lobbying on, the Smarter Sentencing Act and the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. This session will provide valuable information for all attendees, and is required for all students participating in
Rosslyn Ballroom
liance and Rick Doblin, Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies will be screened. Then, we’ll wrap up the conference with brief remarks from the SSDP staff, select stories from the conference, and a very special surprise.
mission of social justice with the socially conscious cannabis industry has already proven to be a success, and SSDP’s career services program will increase
MONDAY: 09.29.2014
student involvement -- and sensible reform ethics -- in the cannabis industry
8:30A - 9:00A
and nonprofit sector through a cultivated internship program and SSDP’s new job
Lobby Day Briefing + Breakfast
board. And the coming Alumni Asso-
--
ciation will carry the SSDP experience
Rosslyn Ballroom
over to member’s post-graduation lives, offering the same kind of networking and advocacy student member value while
9:00A - 4:30P
providing multiple paths to serve as mentors and advisors.
Individual Lobby Day Meetings With elected officials on Capitol Hill.
6:00P - 6:30P 4:30P - 5:45P
Closing Ceremonies
as advocates. Bringing together SSDP’s
fight to end homelessness.
11
6:30P - 7:00P
had success incorporating campus media
KEYNOTE: A Pathway to Ending Prohibition Neill Franklin Rosslyn Ballroom Across the globe, leaders are acknowledging that prohibition has failed and arguments in favor of alternatives -- from decriminalization to regulation -- are gaining traction at a faster pace than many drug policy reformers imagined. Using the framework of the recent Global Commission on Drug Policy Report, Taking Control: Pathways to Drug Policies that Work, Major Neill Franklin will explore the nuances of sensible postprohibition policies, how we get there,
SPEAKER BIOS
15
Jake Agliata is SSDP’s Outreach Coor-
campaign to expose and eliminate the
graduate years, most recently conclud-
dinator for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic,
waste, fraud, and abuse in the gov-
ing a 2-year term as co-president. Last
Mountain, Pacific, and International
ernment’s $12 billion annual forced
legislative session, Rose convinced her
regions. He first got involved with drug
taxpayer-funded animal experimenta-
Virginia legislative delegate to introduce
policy in 2011 when he co-founded the
tion budget. Bellotti has been honored
a statewide medical amnesty bill, which
SSDP chapter at Dickinson College,
by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as
gained bipartisan support. It is being con-
eventually serving as president from 2012
a Republican “Rising Star of Politics.”
sidered in the upcoming Virginia Legisla-
to 2014. In his time at Dickinson, Jake led
He served as Executive Director of the
tive session.
several initiatives to fight back against
American Association of Political Con-
the administration’s harsh stance on
sultants and as Governor Schwarzeneg-
drug use on campus. He and his chapter
ger’s Senior Research Analyst, where he
effectively organized the student body
managed opposition research, candidate
through campus media to call out the
inoculation, and rapid-response research.
administration’s lack of transparency and
He’s also worked in a laboratory witness-
demand change to the school’s commu-
ing the harsh reality of modern animal
nity standards.
experimentation.
Betty Aldworth joined SSDP in February
Michael Blunk handles much of the
produced a cat video that was projected
2014 as Executive Director. Since 2009,
business development for the ArcView
on the side of a bridge in St. Petersburg,
Betty has specialized in community
Group, the cannabis industry’s premier
Russia, and recently screened a short
outreach, public relations, advocacy, and
hub for investment, data, and progress.
film at the Cannes Film Festival.
policy reform as a consultant to can-
He oversees the process for companies
nabis-related businesses and nonprofit
applying for funding and hoping to get
organizations. Prior to her work in drug
in front of their network of over 300 ac-
policy and medical cannabis, she was a
credited investors. His involvement with
volunteer leadership professional with
SSDP started it all, where he founded a
some of Denver’s most well-respected
chapter at the University of Houston in
nonprofit organizations. Betty served as
2008, and was later elected to the Board
advocacy director for Colorado’s 2012
of Directors for national SSDP. During his
Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like
second term, he was chosen to serve as
Alcohol--the collaborative committee
Chair of the Board, and led the executive
responsible for legalizing, taxing and
search committee for a new executive
regulating marijuana for adults in Colora-
director.
do--and was the Deputy Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association in 2013, the organization’s breakthrough year.
work has been seen on FOX, CNN, NBC, ABC, PBS, Comedy Central, and numerous other television outlets. He’s won a documentary award from George Lucas,
Scott Cecil currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for SSDP’s Heartland, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest regions. He first became involved with SSDP when he co-founded the first SSDP chapter in the State of Arizona in 2011. There are now six thriving SSDP chapters in Arizona and he was involved with helping to form each one. Scott was elected to the SSDP Board of Directors in 2013 where he served as the Chair of the Advisory Council Committee before the summer of 2014.
State University. Before moving to the France, the Netherlands, and Morocco.
organization in San Francisco that helps
In 2009, he founded SSDP at St Cloud
unstably housed youth live happy and
State University. Since 2011, Romain
healthy lives. Her roots in social justice
has served as the founding director of
grew out of drug policy reform. When
Portland State SSDP, focusing on harm
she lived in DC, she served as the SSDP
reduction, drug education, and sensible
National Board Chair from 2010-2012,
policy reform. More recently, he has
worked for the Criminal Justice Policy
worked to promote student interests
Foundation, and volunteered as a team
online through Student Net Alliance, a
leader for HIPS (Helping Individual Pros-
network of students fighting for a free
titutes Survive). She’s passionate about
and open Web.
having difficult psychedelic experiences.
washingtonpost.com, and ABC News. His
studying Communications at Portland
Counselor for At The Crossroads, an
also working with MAPS to support people
joining Reason he worked at C-SPAN,
stepping down to join the SSDP staff in
United States in 2008, Romain lived in
in passing DC’s Good Samaritan Law while
managing editor at Reason TV. Prior to
Romain Bonilla is a French activist
Irina Alexander works as an Outreach
all types of harm reduction, playing a role
Meredith Bragg is a video journalist and
Sam Chapman is one of the two coauthors of House Bill 3460 that legalized and regulated medical marijuana dispensaries in the 2013 legislative session. Since then, Sam founded New Economy Consulting, a consulting firm in Portland Oregon that provides cannabis investors with services including identifying viable real estate, acquiring start up capital, navigating the regulatory process, and lobbying local municipalities to ensure workable regulations fit client needs. Sam got his start in drug policy reform
Rose Bono works as a research assistant
by initiating a SSDP chapter at the Uni-
in the Department of Healthcare Policy &
versity of Oregon in 2009 and has been
Research at Virginia Commonwealth Uni-
engaged in both activism and business
versity, where she is pursuing a Master’s
side of the cannabis industry ever since.
Anthony Bellotti is the founder of the
in Public Health. She held office in VCU’s
White Coat Waste Movement - a new
SSDP chapter in each of her under-
Cyndee Clay, Executive Director of HIPS,
16
has advocated for, by and with individu-
dues paying members of MPP recently
for the AMPLIFY Project, bringing harm
als engaged in sex work or sex for gain
elected Troy to the board with more
reduction and policy reform information
with since 1995. She has developed harm
than 75% of the vote in a 3-way race. He
to live music events.
reduction based programs and pro-
co-founded Students for Sensible Drug
vided technical assistance and training
Policy (now on over 200 campuses), and
for medical and social service providers
helped launch and serve as the first sales
both in the U.S. and internationally on
director at Renewable Choice Energy
topics including HIV Prevention, LGBT
(recently named the #1 green power
Sensitivity, Sex Work and Harm Re-
provider by the EPA). He is a founding
duction. Cyndee served as foundation
board member of the National Cannabis
representative on the Ms. Foundation’s
Industry Association. In his spare time
first collaborative for Healthy Girls/
Troy enjoys singing karaoke and planning
Healthy Women, and serves on Wash-
and blogging about Burning Man.
ington DC’s Community HIV Prevention Planning Group, and the Health Department’s working group on Substance Use and HIV, and represents the District of Columbia on the national Urban Coalition of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services.
tor of Strategic Partnerships for the Washington DC-based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). She recently moved to Denver, Colorado to open NORML’s first satellite office, and dually serves as the chapter coordinator for the southeast and western regions of the country. In 2010 she established the NORML
John Decker SSDP Alumnus John
Women’s Alliance, and remains com-
Decker works for Mountain Medicines,
mitted to empowering female activists
one of Colorado’s top infused edibles
and entrepreneurs in the movement and
production company as a chocolatiere
industry. Sabrina has been quoted in
and production artist. In 2010, John
several national and international news
served as the GOTV Field Coordinator
publications including the AP, Fortune
Jess Cochrane is a JD/MPH student at
for SSDP during California’s Proposition
Magazine, the Washington Post, and the
Northeastern University School of Law
19 referendum. John has been involved
London Times. She is a member of the
and Tufts University School of Medicine.
with the drug policy reform movement
SSDP Advisory Council and serves on the
She is an alumna of AmeriCorps NYC
and SSDP since 2006, when he joined his
Advisory Board for the Marijuana Majority.
Community HealthCorps and co-founded
SSDP chapter at the University of Mary-
NUSL SSDP. In 2013, Jess completed her
land. There he served as Outreach chair,
MPH capstone, “Mandated Reporting of
Vice President, and Overall Good Dude.
Substance-Exposed Newborns in an Era
Alec Foster is an activist engineer in San Francisco, California. Named NYU’s “Most Influential Student” and “Future
Ben Droz was not unlike you - a passion-
Most Notable Alumni” for his harm re-
ate college student hungry for change.
duction evangelism, Alec is a rising star
An internship with Vote Hemp turned
of networked advocacy. He is a member
into a job out of college, and Ben has
of the Board of Directors of Students for
been working on hemp in Congress ever
Sensible Drug Policy, and co-founded
since. Ben regularly meets with Congres-
the chapter at New York University in
sional staff, corresponds with activists
2010. He is the co-founder and Execu-
and volunteers around the country, and
tive Director of Student Net Alliance, an
works on strategy implementation to
international movement of digital rights
educate about the differences between
activists on college campuses. Alec is a
hemp and marijuana. Ben graduated
Technology Strategist at Google, where
Stacia Cosner loves her job working as
from Goucher College in 2009 and cur-
he develops scalable solutions across
Deputy Director for Students for Sen-
rently resides in Washington, DC.
internal platforms.
Evan Eisenberg is a consultant to Florida
Steve Fox is the director of VS Strate-
cannabusiness Medical Alternative Solu-
gies, a lobbying affiliate of the Vicente
tions (MAS). Evan began working for
Sederberg law firm in Denver, Colorado.
MAS after graduating from the University
In 2010, he co-founded the National
of South Florida, where he worked for
Cannabis Industry Association based on
the Wellness Center developing alcohol
the belief that the industry needed direct
and other drug peer education materials.
representation in Washington, DC. More
In 2012, Evan founded and was elected
recently, he co-founded the Council on
president of the USF SSDP chapter,
Responsible Cannabis Regulation, which
helping develop a 911 Good Samaritan
is dedicated to promoting responsible
of Changing Marijuana Laws,” with National Advocates for Pregnant Women. She is co-founder of Family Law & Cannabis Alliance (FLCA) and has worked in community health centers, legal services agencies, and public defenders’ offices. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and passionate about language access, reproductive justice, and policies to support families in diverse urban communities.
17
Sabrina Fendrick serves as the Direc-
sible Drug Policy in Washington, DC. Her areas of responsibility include management, finances, administration, event planning, program implementation, development, communication, and data. On Wednesdays during the summer, you can find Stacia playing softball on the national mall as co-captain of The One Hitters, a co-ed congressional league softball team comprised of DC drug policy reformers and friends.
Policy. Evan was elected to SSDP’s board
regulation at the state level. Steve also
Troy Dayton was formerly the Marijuana
of directors in October 2013 and focuses
co-founded SAFER, a Colorado-based
Policy Project’s top fundraiser and lead
on fundraising for SSDP’s national office.
organization dedicated to educating the
liaison to the legal cannabis industry. The
Evan serves as a national staff member
public about the relative harms of mari-
juana and alcohol. And in 2011-2012, he
joined SSDP’s live music activism based
August 31, 2014. She plans to take the
co-drafted Amendment 64 and managed
side-project the AMPLIFY Project in 2010
petition along with proposed amend-
the history-making campaign for the
as an Outreach Coordinator transform-
ments to the RAVE Act to Congress this
Marijuana Policy Project.
ing it over four years into a leading voice
fall. Goldsmith says the RAVE Act is no
for drug policy reform & harm reduction
longer relevant to today’s EDM festivals
within the live music community. In addi-
and concerts. Instead, she says it stands
tion to his work with NCIA and AMPLIFY,
in the way of event organizers taking
Brian also sits on the Board of Directors
steps to make their venues safer for the
of DanceSafe.
hundreds of thousands of young people
Major Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is a 33-year police veteran who led multi-jurisdictional anti-narcotics task forces for the Maryland State Police
who regularly attend them.
and ran training for the Baltimore Police
Brooke Gilbert is the director of events
Department. After seeing several of his
& education for the National Cannabis
Shea Gunther founded the Rochester
law enforcement friends killed in the line
Industry Association. Prior to joining
Cannabis Coalition at the Rochester
of fire while enforcing drug policies, Neill
NCIA, Brooke served as the Outreach
Institute of Technology in New York in
realized he needed to work to change
and Events Coordinator for medical can-
1997, which became the first chapter of
these laws that cause so much harm but
nabis patient-advocacy group Americans
SSDP the following year. Since then he’s
do nothing to reduce drug use.
for Safe Access, where she facilitated
worked in the fields of technology and
the organization’s first national confer-
media and most recently returned to the
ence. Brooke has also been instrumental
world of drug policy as producer and co-
in program development as an intern
founder of the hit podcast “Marijuana To-
for Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
day” along with fellow panelist Kris Lotlikar.
Frances Fu is a senior at Northwestern University studying Social Policy with a minor in Business Institutions. She re-founded the Northwestern chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy her freshman year (2011). Through SSDP, she found an internship with Tetzlaff Law Offices and helps write and review applications for cannabis cultivation centers and dispensary licenses. Some of you may know her as “The Drug Policy Dealer,” but offline, she serves on Northwestern University’s Alcohol Coalition, Campus Coalition on Sexual Violence, and is
where she coordinated the first round of mentors & mentees of the Sister-to-Sister program and continues to volunteer as the director of development & special projects for the AMPLIFY project. Additionally, she sits on the board of directors for the non-profit harm reduction organization DanceSafe. Brooke currently resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband Brian and dog Lola.
Kandice Hawes is the current President of California State University Fullerton Students for Sensible Drug Policy and is a Public Administration and Political Science double major. In 2001, after losing her financial aid due to a drug charge, she founded the Orange County chapter of NORML in 2003. Eleven years later, OC NORML now has hundreds of members who attend meetings and thousands
the current Panhellenic President. This
Dan Goldman is the only person in SSDP
who receive email updates. Hawes is also
upcoming year, she is hoping to write
to have attended every national confer-
the Principal Officer of a Political Action
her senior thesis on something related to
ence. Since 1999, he has been an active
Committee that is running a measure on
drug policy and is looking for good ideas!
chapter leader, student and non-student
the November 2014 Santa Ana ballot to
Board member, Director of Outreach
regulate the medical marijuana collectives.
Lauren Galik is the Director of Criminal Justice Reform at Reason Foundation, a nonprofit libertarian think-tank that publishes Reason magazine, Reason.com, and Reason TV. Her work focuses on a variety of issues including (but not limited to) prison reform, drug policy, and sentencing reform – particularly at the state level. Lauren graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.
and Alumni in 2005-2006, and since last December, is once again serving in a non-student capacity on the Board of Directors. He is the founder of leGAYlize It!, the nation’s only LGBT-specific drug policy reform organization and currently works with the New York Cannabis Alliance as the Director of Community Relations. He is thrilled to be a regular guest on Marijuana Today and hopes you’ll all give a listen to Never Stop Exploring, a
Brian Gilbert works as the Events Coor-
new, long form interview podcast with
dinator at the National Cannabis Industry
SSDP’s and drug policy reform’s most
Association, the only trade association
dynamic leaders, past and present.
representing cannabis businesses on the national level. He got his start in drug policy after helping to found SSDP at VCU in Richmond, VA in 2009. Brian
Shawn Heller is a civil rights and criminal defense attorney. In 2012 Shawn, along with Joshua Glickman, formed the Social Justice Law Collective. Shawn has been actively working for drug policy reform since 1998, and was one of the founders of SSDP. After graduating college, Shawn served as SSDP’s Executive Director from 2000 through 2003. Since then, Shawn has served the organization as a Board member, advisor, and mentor. Shawn holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from George Washington University. During
Dede Goldsmith, mother of Shelley
college he served in the White House
Goldsmith, has already collected over
as an intern for the Deputy Director for
1,000 signatures on her petition website,
Political Affairs.
AmendTheRaveAct.org, launched on
18
Mikayla Hellwich graduated in Spring
Stephanie Izquieta is a senior at Bing-
use in criminal or civil matters. She is
2014 from the University of Maryland and
hamton University majoring in Philoso-
Co-Founder of Family Law & Cannabis
has been an active member and chap-
phy, Politics, & Law. She interned this
Alliance (FLCA) and is currently on the
ter leader within Students for Sensible
past summer at the Drug Policy Alliance
leadership committee of SSDP’s Out-
Drug Policy since 2010. Since becom-
and is the founder and current chapter
reach, Recruitment & Diversity Commit-
ing involved with SSDP she has taken
leader of Binghamton’s SSDP chapter.
tee (ORD) where she is Vice-Chair. Sara
a deeper interest in live music and how
While at Binghamton she joined the
is the mother of two little girls and lives
drugs, harm reduction, and personal
TEDx executive board and helped orga-
in central Massachusetts. She has faced
safety shape the experience. She hopes
nize one of the largest academic TEDx
CPS three times (thus far) for her medi-
that highlighting her experiences as a
events among thousands in over eighty
cal marijuana use.
reformer and live event participant can
countries around the world, with an audi-
help re-shape the conversations we’re
ence of nearly 1,300 students, faculty,
all having about substances and foster
and community members. Stephanie also
safer, more compassionate communities
serves on the Board for the Student Net
for partiers. Earlier this year she interned
Alliance and is a Google Student Ambas-
for the Director of Media Relations at
sador for her University.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Sederberg LLC, a national law firm dedicated to the intersection of marijuana policy, government relations, and business law with a focus on the interplay of state, federal, and international marijua-
Stefanie Jones is nightlife community
na laws. Mr. Kappel graduated from the
engagement manager at the Drug Policy
University of Denver, Sturm College of
Alliance, based in New York. In this role
Law. While in law school, Josh received
she introduces harm reduction principles
both the Patton Boggs Public Policy
Trevor Hosterman is the head grower
and drug policy alternatives to party-
Fellowship and the Public Interest Law
and cultivation manager for Good Meds
goers, public health officials and city
Clerkship to work for Sensible Colorado.
Network. He began working with Good
nightlife regulators across the U.S. In
Josh also interned with the National
Meds in August of 2012 after relocating
her prior role within the organization as
ACLU’s Drug Law Reform Project, the
from South Eastern Pennsylvania to Den-
event manager she produced four pro-
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, and was
ver, Colorado. Before becoming a Colo-
gressively larger editions of the biennial
founder of Students for Sensible Drug
rado transplant, Trevor attended West
International Drug Policy Reform Confer-
Policy of Truman State University.
Chester University of Pennsylvania where
ence, as well as numerous local policy
he co-founded a chapter of Students for
conferences, fundraisers and coalition-
Sensible Drug Policy in late 2009. Since
building meetings.
and has since gained a full-time position there. Mikayla lives in Washington D.C. with her python Sterling.
graduation, Trevor has remained actively in-
Khurshid Khoja is Principal at Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, a business law firm which represents clientele from
Rob Kampia co-founded the Marijuana
across the legal cannabis industry. Khur-
Policy Project in 1995 and has served as
shid currently serves on the founding
its executive director ever since. Rob is
Board of the California Cannabis Industry
the architect of most of the state-level
Association and the Illinois Cannabis In-
marijuana laws that have been enacted
dustry Association. While serving as The
Kat Humphries is a legal assistant at
in the United States since 2000, includ-
ArcView Group’s first General Counsel,
Vicente Sederberg. She joined Vicente
ing the historic 2012 campaign to legalize
Khurshid helped ArcView CEO Troy Dayton
Sederberg in 2013 after spending a year
marijuana in Colorado, and numerous
launch the ArcView Angel Network (AAN)
working as a legal clerk for an intellectual
decriminalization and medical marijuana
— providing advice on securities laws com-
property law firm focusing on patents
laws. Rob has provided fiery testimony
pliance, drafting membership and other
and trademarks. Kat became involved in
before Congress twice, as well as testify-
critical path agreements. Khurshid earned
drug policy in 2010 when she founded
ing before nine state legislatures. Rob
his J.D. at the University of California,
a chapter of Students for Sensible Drug
grew up in Harleysville, Pennsylvania;
Berkeley School of Law, where he served as
Policy at the College of Charleston. In
served three months in a county jail for
President of the Class of 2001.
college, she changed marijuana policies
growing marijuana for personal use; was
at a collegiate level, expanded the Col-
elected student body president of Penn
lege’s Good Samaritan Policy, interned
State University; and graduated with
with the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office’s
honors in 1993.
volved with SSDP by volunteering with their side project: The AMPLIFY Project. Currently, he volunteers with AMPLIFY as a national outreach and merchandise coordinator.
19
Joshua Kappel is a partner at Vicente
Juvenile Arbitration program, and served as the chairwoman of the College’s judicial board for two years. Currently, Kat sits on Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s Board of Directors.
James Kowalsky (SSDP Alum: Northwestern 2009) is the Engagement Services & Practice Enhancement Specialist at Heartland Health Outreach (HHO) in
Sahra Kant Sara Arnold, aka Sahra Kant,
Chicago, IL. As an outreach worker with
is a hard-working drug policy advocate
the HHO PATH Team, James works with
and activist committed to ending the
people who are homeless to link them to
persecution of pregnant women and
housing, healthcare services, and other
parents (of all genders) for cannabis
resources. He incorporates harm reduc-
tion into his work with clients engaged
at NBC Learn. He spent two years as a
ing about marijuana. Since that time the
in potentially risky behaviors like drug
Seventh Grade Language Arts & Social
Lees have dedicated much of their time
use, sexual activity and interpersonal
Studies teacher in his native Newark be-
and resources to educating on the evils
conflicts. In addition to outreach work,
fore completing an M.S. in Journalism at
of the Drug War.
James facilitates trainings and provides
Columbia University. He translated his fa-
support to organizations which are
ther’s novel Skyliner, about life in Eastern
adapting their practices to incorporate
Europe in the aftermath of World War 2.
harm reduction, housing first, motivational
Ed completed a B.S. and M.A. in Interna-
interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
tional Relations at Seton Hall University.
Kris Krane serves as a Principal and
Alex Kreit is an Associate Professor and
timore, MD. Mike has successfully lobbied
Managing Partner at 4Front Advisors,
Director of the Center for Law and Social
in DC, Maryland, and elsewhere to help:
a medical cannabis dispensary consult-
Justice at Thomas Jefferson School of
approve and improve medical marijuana
ing firm. Kris has dedicated his career
Law. Alex was a member of the found-
laws; pass Good Samaritan legislation;
to reforming the nation’s failed and
ing Board of Directors of Students for
and block anti-community “gang injunc-
misguided drug policies, having served
Sensible Drug Policy and served on
tion” legislation. Federally, he was the
as associate director of the National
SSDP’s Board from 1999 to 2005 and
part of the lobbying effort that earned
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
again from 2010 to 2012. He is author
the first successful medical marijuana
Laws from 2000-2005 and executive
of the casebook Controlled Substances:
vote in Congress. Beyond his work at
director of Students for Sensible Drug
Crime, Regulation, and Policy (Carolina
ASA, Mike advocates for DC statehood,
Policy from 2006-2009. During this
Academic Press, 2013) and co-author of
plays guitar in SWALTB, and pitches for
time the organization experienced rapid
the reference book Drug Abuse and the
the One Hitters softball team.
chapter growth, and led a successful
Law Sourcebook (with Gerald F. Uelmen)
campaign to convince members of Con-
(West, 2013 (updated annually)).”
gress to scale back the HEA Aid Elimination Penalty, the law that automatically denies federal financial aid to students with drug convictions. Kris currently sits on the national board of directors of the National Cannabis Industry Association and Common Sense for Drug Policy, as well as the advisory council for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. He also served as Associate Editor of See Change Strategy’s first of its kind medical marijuana market report in 2011 and the ArcView Market Research Report follow up in 2013, which analyzed the value of the retail medical marijuana market.
Mike Liszewski, JD, is Government Affairs Director at Americans for Safe Access. He spent his early career as a community organizer forming afterschool youth programs in southeast Bal-
Andrew Livingston serves as a policy analyst for Vicente Sederberg and a
Amber Iris Langston lives in Kansas City,
contract researcher for ArcView Group
Missouri, where she serves as a Board
where he does policy and market re-
Director for Show-Me Cannabis, leading
search for cannabis businesses. He first
Missouri marijuana legalization educa-
worked alongside Vicente Sederberg in
tion efforts as Executive Director of the
2012 during the Amendment 64 cam-
national 501c3 organization American
paign in Colorado. Andrew started in
Victory Foundation. Amber previously
drug policy while at Colgate University
served on the Board of Directors, and
and founded a chapter of Students for
later as outreach director and interna-
Sensible Drug Policy in 2009. During this
tional liaison, for SSDP. Amber was then
time he focused his academic studies on
media liaison for Prop 19 in California in
the economics of illegal markets and the
2010, and worked briefly with Americans
harms they create for societies around
for Safe Access as a field coordinator.
the world. In October, Andrew was appoint-
Amber has a particular passion for the
ed by the Colorado Department of Revenue
intersection of drug policy with issues of
to a panel determining interim production
Michael Krawitz is a United States Air
gender and race, which is the focus of
caps for the new marijuana industry.
Force Veteran. He is the Executive Direc-
her current work.
tor of Veterans for Medical Cannabis
Kris Lotlikar is President of one of the
Ann Edwards Lee grew up in Ponchatou-
leading renewable energy companies
la, Louisiana. After finishing Ponchatoula
in the U.S. which won the Green Power
High School, she entered The University
Supplier of the Year award from the
of Texas. There she met Bob Lee, who
EPA in 2013. His business has over 50
not only made her a Texan but a Repub-
Fortune 500 clients and he is advisor to
lican! They were married in 1951, have
numerous clean technology companies
lived in Houston since 1956, and have 5
and sits on the new innovators council
Ed Krayewski is an associate editor of
sons, 4 granddaughters and 2 “greats”. In
at the World Resource Institute. Kris is
Reason 24/7 at Reason.com. Before join-
1990, the Lee’s fourth son, Richard, had
also host of Marijuana Today, a podcast
ing Reason, he was an associate produc-
an accident that made him a paraplegic.
provider serious discussion and analysis
er for FreedomWatch with Judge Napoli-
When Richard told them that marijuana
of marijuana business and politics. He
tano, a media producer for Fox News and
was good for him, they had to accept the
was a founder and National Director of
Fox Business, and an assistant producer
fact that our government had been ly-
Student for Sensible Drug Policy and sits
access and is on the board of advisers of Patients out of Time, a medical cannabis patient advocacy organization. Michael has become a leading voice for Drug policy reform advocacy at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
20
on the Board of Directors for the League of Young Voters, the Flex Your Rights Foundation and the Arcview Group, the nation’s leading marijuana industry investment and research organization.
Lauren Mendelsohn is a second-year student at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. This summer she worked as a law clerk for a corporate
Fort Worth chapter of NORML. She served as Bay Area Regional Director of California’s Proposition 19 campaign and has worked at the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. Kat is a graduate of UC:Berkeley and Oaksterdam.
Tim Lynch is Director of Cato’s Project
cannabis firm. Miss Mendelsohn founded
on Criminal Justice. Under his direction,
a chapter of LSSDP during her first year
Tony Newman is director of media
Cato has become a leading voice in sup-
at UCI, which has already become on of
relations for the Drug Policy Alliance, a
port of the Bill of Rights and civil liber-
the most active student groups at the
position he has held since 2000. New-
ties. In 2000, he served on the National
law school. Under her leadership, UCI
man has more than 20 years of public
Committee to Prevent Wrongful Execu-
LSSDP was chosen to host a major sym-
relations experience. Before joining the
tions. Lynch has also filed several amicus
posium in Spring 2015. Miss Mendelsohn
organization, he was the media director
briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court in cases
was heavily influenced by SSDP during
for the human rights organization Global
involving constitutional rights. He is the
her undergraduate career at the Univer-
Exchange and co-founded the public
editor of In the Name of Justice: Leading
sity of Maryland, where she served as
relations firm Communication Works.
Experts Reexamine the Classic Article
President and later Outreach Director for
Newman received his B.A. from the Uni-
“The Aims of the Criminal Law” and After
the chapter.
versity of California Santa Cruz.
Amanda Muller got involved with SSDP
Evan Nison is the Executive Director of
in November of 2010, when she joined
NORML New Jersey and Director of East
the Florida State University chapter as
Coast Cannabis Division for Terra Tech
a college sophomore. Amanda and the
(TRTC), a sustainable agricultural com-
Ciarán Maher is the Executive Director
FSU chapter members were the impetus
pany looking to enter the marijuana in-
of NORML Ireland national chapter, and
for ensuring the successful passing and
dustry. In New York he is the Co-Founder
Chapter Leader with SSDP at the Na-
promotion of FSU’s Medical Amnesty
and Director of the NY Cannabis Alli-
tional University of Ireland, Galway.
Policy in 2012. She was additionally in-
ance, which has helped craft the marijua-
volved in collaborating with SSDP chap-
na legalization bill and worked closely on
ters throughout the state to advocate
the Compassionate Care Act campaign.
for Florida’s 911 Good Samaritan Act.
He was also President of Ithaca Students
Amanda has worked with government
for Sensible Drug Policy for 4 years,
health departments, cannabis consulting
which was rated the #1 college drug law
firms and harm reduction organizations to
reform chapter in the country in 2011.
Prohibition: An Adult Approach to Drug Policies in the 21st Century. Tim also blogs extensively at the Cato Institute’s National Police Misconduct Reporting Project.
Katherine Mangu-Ward is managing editor of Reason magazine. She writes about food, space, and education for Reason and Reason.com. Mangu-Ward is a 2013-2014 Future Tense fellow at the New America Foundation. Previously, she worked as a reporter for The Weekly Standard magazine and as a researcher at The New York Times op-ed page. Her
21
of Journalism. She is a lifelong Yankees fan.
advocate for more sensible policies, including drug overdose and infectious disease prevention, primarily in the U.S. South.
Brandon Paroly is a third-year student at George Washington University Law School, and is current president of GW
work has appeared in The Wall Street
Reid Murdoch is a student at the Univer-
Law SSDP. Brandon works at LawIQ, a le-
Journal, The Washington Post, The Los
sity of Michigan Law School. He founded
gal analytics firm, and has a background
Angeles Times, The New York Times
the Michigan LSSDP chapter in Fall 2013.
in financial regulatory law and hedge
online, and numerous other publica-
Reid spent his 1L summer working for
fund consulting. He is also a cum laude
tions. Mangu-Ward is a graduate of Yale
the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project
graduate of the University of Pennsylva-
University, where she received a B.A.
in NYC, and is focusing his studies on
nia and president of the alumni club.
in political science and philosophy. She
criminal defense.
lives in Washington, D.C.
Jonathan Perri is the Deputy Campaigns
Kat Murti is Digital Marketing Manager
Director at Change.org, the largest
Alyson Martin is an award-winning
at the Cato Institute and a member of
online campaigns platform in the world
journalist, a photographer, and an editor.
SSDP’s Board of Directors. She currently
with more than 75 million users. Jon
She focuses on investigative journalism,
serves as chair of the Outreach, Recruit-
has helped craft strategy for some of
health reporting, and drug policy. Her
ment, and Diversity Committee. Kat has
the largest and most successful online
work has been published by the New
been actively involved with SSDP since
campaigns in the world. Previously,
York Times, The Nation, The Atlantic, the
January 2009 and was named an Alumni
Jon served as the Associate Director of
Albany Times Union, the Ithaca Journal
All Star in December of 2010 and a
Students for Sensible Drug Policy from
and the 2011 edition of the book Our
Spotlighted Alum in January of 2012. Kat
2008 to 2011.
Bodies, Ourselves. Martin is a graduate of
first became involved with drug policy
the Columbia University Graduate School
in 2007 when she joined the Dallas-
Victor Pinho A dedicated activist and seasoned marketing professional, Vic-
tor got his start in drug policy reform
Publishing Association. He is a former
Adam Schneider, MA, MSW, is Director
in 2004 when he co-founded NORML
judge for the Association of Alternative
of Community Relations at Health Care
and SSDP chapters at the University
Newsmedia Awards, and a graduate of
for the Homeless (HCH), where he works
of Maryland, College Park. For over a
Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.
on state and local public policy and
decade, Victor has remained deeply involved with SSDP at various capacities and was recognized as an Outstanding Alum in 2008. Victor’s professional life doesn’t stray too far from his passions. As Director of Marketing and Communications for Berkeley Patients Group, California’s oldest, continuously operating medical cannabis dispensary, Victor has become a thought-leader in his field and is pioneering innovative marketing techniques targeted for the medical cannabis industry.
Nick Rosenberg is an SSDP chapter leader at the University of Maryland (UMD). His passion for social justice is what drew him to drug policy reform. Nick has considerable experience volunteering and for the past 2 years was a leader with UMD Alternative Breaks, a service learning program where student led groups go on week long trips focusing on a particular social issue. Nick is also a leader of Delta Alpha Pi, the honor society for students with disabilities, which aims to
community initiatives related to issues of health and homelessness. He had been an organizer of several grassroots initiatives undertaken by people experiencing homelessness. Prior to HCH, Adam worked as a case manager for people living in poverty in Baltimore. In addition to his work at HCH, Adam teaches courses on philosophy, political theory, social work, public health and public policy at several colleges and universities in Maryland.
improve the rights and perceptions of
Mark Schumann is a leading advocate
Nushin Rashidian is an award-winning
individuals with disabilities. This summer
and community educator on poverty
Iranian American journalist. Rashidian, a
he was an intern for the Criminal Justice
and homelessness in Baltimore. He is a
Columbia University Graduate School of
Policy Foundation and SSDP.
founding member of Baltimore’s ‘Faces
Journalism alumna, focuses her reporting on drug policy, aging issues, and stories of injustice. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Nation, Tehran Bureau, Esquire, AARP Bulletin, CBS News, and The Guardian US. She is a Californian still adjusting to the seasons
Kellen Russoniello is a current board member of SSDP and Staff Attorney with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, where he works to ensure pathways to health access instead of to the criminal justice system. He earned
of Homelessness’ Speakers Bureau. He also helped start Baltimore’s street newspaper, Word in the Street, for which he is editor-in-chief. Mark is also on the Board of Directors at Heath Care for the Homeless of Maryland.
his JD and MPH from The George
Dylan Schwartz is SSDP’s Intern Program
Washington University. Kellen drafted
development consultant and is execu-
Vikrant P. Reddy is a senior policy ana-
Good Samaritan overdose prevention
tive director of Your Vote Counts PAC. In
lyst in the Center for Effective Justice
legislation for the District of Columbia,
Staten Island, Dylan runs the Youth Lead-
at the Texas Public Policy Foundation,
which became law in March, 2013. He
ership Academy, empowering young
where he coordinates the Right On Crime
has volunteered drafting motions to seal
people in New York City to get involved
campaign. He has authored several
criminal records, providing outreach to
in electoral and issue based campaigns
reports on criminal justice policy and is a
sex workers and homeless people, and
while providing the training they need to
frequent speaker and media commenta-
teaching middle-school children about
succeed in a professional environment.
tor on the topic. Reddy has worked as a
the Constitution and Bill of Rights. He
When in college, Dylan served as a mem-
research assistant at The Cato Institute,
has held several internships with various
ber of the Orlando Anti-Discrimination
as a law clerk to the Honorable Gina M.
drug policy reform organizations.
Ordinance Committee, rallying young
in the northeast.
Benavides of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals of Texas, and as an attorney in private practice, focusing on trial and appellate litigation.
Jeronimo Saldaña is the legislative and organizing coordinator for the movement building team at the Drug Policy Alliance.
people to secure Domestic Partnerships for all couples, and served as a field organizer in 2012 for Obama for America.
Prior to joining the Drug Policy Alliance,
Christian Sederberg is a partner and
Mike Riggs is director of communica-
Saldaña worked as a political organizer
founding member of Vincente Sederberg
tions for Families Against Mandatory
for a Service Employees International
LLC, one of the first securities practices
Minimums. A former journalist, he has
Union (SEIU) affiliate advocating on
in the world dedicated specifically to
covered civil liberties and criminal justice
behalf of working families. Jeronimo has
helping marijuana industry companies
policy for Atlantic Media, Reason Maga-
also worked on environmental justice,
go public. Christian was an integral part
zine, the Washington City Paper, The
civic engagement, and immigrant rights
of Colorado’s Amendment 64 campaign
Daily Caller, the Nation, the Weekly Stan-
while serving as a program associate at
and also offered advice to the Uruguayan
dard, The New Republic, and other out-
the Open Society Foundations. Saldaña
Government ahead of the introduction of
lets. In 2013, his investigative reporting
is a native East L.A. Chicano with a B.A.
Cannabis Regulation in the country.
for Reason was recognized by both the
in Chican/o studies from the University
Los Angeles Press Club and the Western
of California Santa Barbara.
Catherine Sevcenko is the Associate Di-
22
3
rector of Litigation for FIRE. She gradu-
1977-1979. In the 1980s, he was the Assis-
Pregnant Women, a reproductive justice
ated magna cum laude from George
tant Counsel, U.S. House Crime Subcom-
organization that protects the rights,
Mason School of Law after a career as
mittee, responsible for laws on drugs,
health, and dignity of those who are
a Foreign Service Officer. Postings in
guns, pornography, and organized crime.
pregnant and parenting by organizing
Budapest, Munich, and Moscow before
Joining DPA in 1986, he was one of its
with state and national coalitions, provid-
and after the fall of the Berlin Wall gave
first members. He helped found FAMM in
ing pro bono legal assistance, supporting
her a deep appreciation for the power
1990, MPP in 1993 and Marijuana Major-
defense attorneys in criminal and civil
of free speech. After law school, Cath-
ity in 2012. B. A. 1973, Haverford College;
child welfare cases, and bringing legal
erine clerked on the Sixth Circuit Court
J. D. 1976, Villanova University. Faculty:
and medical expertise to media and
of Appeals before starting work as an
American University (1985-86), George
professionals who work with pregnant
associate at Steptoe & Johnson, LLC.
Washington University (2007-08).
people. Ms. Sunderlin’s work focuses
After leaving Steptoe, Catherine joined the appellate group at the U.S. Trustees Program at the Department of Justice and was interim Executive Director for a non-profit in Washington, D.C. that teaches chess to children.
Jesse Stout is a criminal defense lawyer and criminal justice activist. Since earning his bar license, he has appeared in criminal courts across northern California. Jesse graduated from Brown University and University of California Hastings
primarily on challenging punitive responses to opioid use during pregnancy, including medication-assisted treatment, through public education and targeted litigation. She received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Michigan and is a proud double wolverine.
Jeremy Sharp, a proud native of Georgia
College of the Law. During law school
is a student at the University of North
Jesse worked for public defenders and
Rex Tai is a senior at Northwestern
Georgia where he serves as the President
analyzed criminal justice legislation at
studying Biology, minoring in Sociologi-
of the SSDP chapter there. He is also a
the California Assembly Public Safety
cal Research, and pursuing a premedi-
Board Member and Student Liaison for
Committee. Before law school, Jesse was
cine track. He succeeded to the presi-
Peachtree NORML, Regional Coordinator
executive director of the Rhode Island
dency for 2014-2015 following a year of
for Amplify Project, and Board Mem-
Patient Advocacy Coalition. There, he
tenure as treasurer for SSDP at NU, and
ber for Georgia Overdose Prevention.
organized the medical marijuana patient
he hopes to see his chapter grow even
Jeremy has testified in front of the House
community in support of the RI Medical
more and establish a legacy of sensible
Judiciary/Non-Civil committee in favor
Marijuana Act, which overcame three
drug policy and education at his school.
of HB 965 and was personally com-
gubernatorial vetoes and now protects
He advocates discussion on diversity and
mended by the Georgia state House and
thousands from arrest.
inequality within Northwestern’s Asian
state Senate and Governor Nathan Deal for his efforts. Jeremy was instrumental in SSDP’s efforts to enact the Medical Amnesty and Naloxone access law in Georgia, in early 2014.
Drew Stromberg is our Outreach Director. He oversees our two Outreach Coordinators and our Campus Coordinator program. Drew got involved in Students for Sensible Drug Policy in 2009 when
American and minority communities, promotes harm reduction in all parts of life from sex to eating, and performs neurobiology research with a focus on drug mechanisms. When he needs a breather from drug policy, he enjoys hip-hop
Steve Silverman is the founder and exec-
he founded the chapter at West Virginia
utive director of Flex Your Rights (Flex),
University. Drew presided over the WVU
a creative educational nonprofit build-
chapter from 2009 to 2011 and interned
ing better tools for navigating police
at the national office in Washington, D.C.
encounters. Flex produced the popular
in the summer of 2010. For Colorado’s
educational movies, BUSTED: The Citi-
Amendment 64 campaign, Drew built
Olivia Teehan is the SSDP Chapter
zen’s Guide to Surviving Police Encoun-
a specialized phonebank tool which
Leader at UCC (University College Cork)
ters and 10 Rules for Dealing with Police.
students and activists from across the
in Cork, Ireland.
Their YouTube channel has surpassed
country used to make more than 18,000
35 million views. Flex is now developing
phone calls to Colorado voters in sup-
better mobile apps for recording and
port of Amendment 64. Additionally,
monitoring the police.
Drew helped coordinate and oversee the
Eric E. Sterling, J.D. SSDP National Board since 2004; supporter since 1999. President of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation since 1989. As a student, he joined NORML and testified for mari-
on-the-ground student-oriented GOTV effort in the final days of the campaign, where volunteers engaged with more than 10,000 student voters on six Colorado college campuses.
juana decriminalization in 1976. Public
Kylee Sunderlin is a Soros Justice Ad-
defender and volunteer counsel ACLU,
vocacy Fellow at National Advocates for
dancing with ReFresH Dance Crew, cooking anything imaginable so he can take pictures of his creations, and discovering new electronic or classical music.
Eapen Thampy is the founder and executive director of Americans for Forfeiture Reform, a nonprofit advocating the reform of civil and criminal asset forfeiture at the state and federal level. Eapen also serves as the Midwest Director for the Our America Initiative, and is one of the founders of the Show-Me Cannabis marijuana legalization movement in Missouri. Shaleen Title is co-founder of THC Staff-
ing Group, a recruitment firm for the
at the Open Society Foundations, where
the Coalition for Cannabis Standards &
marijuana industry. She serves as a regu-
she promotes the reform of domestic
Ethics (CCSE), and the Washington Mari-
latory and compliance expert for 4Front
and international drug policy. Prior to
juana Business Association (MJBA). She
Advisors, and previously, she helped
joining Open Society, she was deputy
obtained her law degree from University
make history as part of the team which
director of national affairs for the Drug
of California, Berkeley, and graduated
legalized marijuana for the first time in
Policy Alliance, where she worked closely
magna cum laude from the University of
2012. Shaleen has won several awards
with Congress and the advocacy com-
Texas at San Antonio.
for her advocacy work and her efforts to
munity to effectively shape public health,
bring more women and people of color
criminal justice, and health policy. She
into drug policy reform, including the
has also worked as research director for
Hunter S. Thompson Young Attorney
the Justice Policy Institute, contribut-
Award and the High Times Freedom
ing to research on the criminal justice
Fighter Award. She served on the SSDP
system and juvenile justice reinvest-
Board of Directors from 2009 to 2013
ment. Jasmine has contributed to several
and currently serves as a board member
publications on mass incarceration, racial
for Marijuana Majority. You can follow her
justice, and the war on drugs.
on Twitter at @shaleentitle.
Tyler Vile is a writer, performer, and advocate for disability rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and drug policy reform. She has testified in favor of medical cannabis reform before the Maryland State Legislature for five consecutive years and was a committed member of University of Maryland, College Park’s SSDP chapter for two years. She is a staff writer at
Jurriaan van den Hurk first became
Bluestockings Magazine, a regular con-
Sam Tracy is chairman of Students for
involved with SSDP as a freshman at
tributor to Punk Globe Magazine, and has
Sensible Drug Policy’s board of direc-
Virginia Commonwealth University in
performed at Washington, DC’s Queer
tors, elected in March 2012 after getting
the fall of 2010. He took over leader-
Poetry Summit and Slam, Capturing Fire.
started with SSDP as a chapter leader at
ship of the chapter as co-President the
the University of Connecticut. He works
following year and continued to lead the
as Communications & Marketing Coordi-
chapter until the spring of 2014. During
nator at 4Front Advisors, a medical mari-
his time as a chapter leader, he worked
juana consulting firm, where he assists in
on expanding the university’s on-cam-
drafting license applications for state-
pus harm reduction program, Just Say
legal marijuana businesses and repre-
Know!, lobbying the state legislators reg-
sents the firm at industry events. Sam
ularly on issues ranging from marijuana
also works as Social Media & Activism
decriminalization to access to TANF by
Director for TechFreedom, a technology
felony drug offenders, and introducing
policy think tank based in Washington,
a statewide Good Samaritan policy bill
DC. He now lives in Boston.
in 2014. He has also conducted scholarly
Mason Tvert is director of communications for Marijuana Policy Project. He co-directed the successful campaign in support of Amendment 64, the 2012 ballot initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Colorado, co-founded and directed Safer Alternative For Enjoyable
research on international drug policy
studies history. His past experiences with campus media include working as Editor in Chief of a monthly alternative arts and politics magazine: “The UConn Free Press”, and administrating successful Facebook pages for the Free Press and SSDP. Currently, Tyler serves as President of UConn SSDP, and hosts their weekly programming on the campus radio station. Rachelle Yeung is a legislative ana-
student research conferences. Jurriaan
lyst, lobbyist, and staff attorney at the
currently works as a data and monitor-
Marijuana Policy Project. She works with
ing specialist in the education field, and
grassroots coalitions and legislators to
enjoys spending his free time writing and
pass marijuana policy reform bills in a
playing music.
dozen different states. Rachelle first
Mitzi Vaughn is the Managing Attorney
Marijuana Is Safer: So why are we driving
for Greenbridge Corporate Counsel. She
people to drink? (Chelsea Green, 2009).
also oversees Greenbridge’s Washington
Mason has worked with students to pass
state practice, advising the cannabis in-
marijuana policy reforms at more than a
dustry regarding corporate, transaction-
dozen colleges and universities. In Janu-
al, and employment matters, as well as
ary 2013, the Denver Post named him
adult-use and medical cannabis regula-
the state’s “Top Thinker” in the area of
tions. Mitzi has represented a wide vari-
politics and government. He is currently
ety of cannabis industry leaders: nutrient
a member of the SAFER board of direc-
manufacturers, cultivators, processors,
tors and a member of the advisory board
retailers, real estate developers, inves-
for Marijuana Majority.
tors, consultants, and software develop-
analyst for global health and drug policy
University of Connecticut, where he
and cartel violence in Mexico at national
Recreation (SAFER), and co-authored
Jasmine L. Tyler is the senior policy
Tyler Williams is a current senior at the
ers. She is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA),
became involved with the drug policy movement as a college student, volunteering and attending rallies in Southern California. In 2012, she founded the University of Colorado Law School chapter of SSDP, which won the Rising Star Chapter award at the International Conference that year. Rachelle went on to work for Sensible Colorado, Colorado’s historic Amendment 64 campaign, and Vicente Sederberg, the state’s foremost marijuana law firm.
24
25
LOCAL INFORMATION Substance Use Virginia’s laws are excellent examples of laws in desperate need of changing by SSDP members and allies, with particularly harsh penalties. No matter how unjust, we hope that conference partici-
M
pants will respect the laws of the State of Virginia.
ROSSLYN MELEE PIOLA
Free Meeting Space Want to present on a topic not covered by another panel, or provide an alternate view? Perhaps you’d like to practice a presentation you’ve been working on, or host a dialogue. Sign up for open presentation times in the Potomac Room.
Need help? SSDP’s Conference Hotline will connect you with a member of SSDP’s staff 24/7. Dial 202-393-5280, ext 9 to be connected to a staff member.
Local Recovery Group Meetings
SMART Recovery Meetings Saturday
8:30 - 10:00 am
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church One Chevy Chase Circle, N.W. Lower Level Room 103 Washington, DC Jack Werstein (202) 829-8566 Saturday 10:00 - 11:30 am Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church One Chevy Chase Circle, N.W. Lower Level Room 103 Washington, DC Patrick Truman (301) 412-2144
Hotel Map
M CAPITOL SOUTH
Key Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge 1900 N Fort Myer Dr, Arlington, VA
M
Metro Station
Piola (Alumni Dinner Location) 1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
Melee Bistro (ORD Dinner Location) 1723 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
Lobby Day Group Photo Location
26
27
ADVOCACY & INDUSTRY JOB FAIR
Students for Sensible Drug Policy has
While some used to consider including
Take a few minutes to visit our inau-
long held a unique space in the drug
SSDP membership on a résumé a liability,
gural Advocacy + Industry Job Fair in
policy reform movement: The work that
it’s now well-known that many employers
Shenandoah C, where you can learn
our members do on their campuses and
will move SSDPers to top consideration
more about the Career Services pro-
in their states prepares them to be lead-
because of the powerful experiences that
gram and connect with top employers
ers in not only drug policy reform, but
shape their work ethic and philosophy
who understand that there’s something
also in many intersecting movements.
while in college. Opportunities abound
special about having an SSDP alumnus
The list of SSDP alumni doing meaningful
for young alumni seeking internship or
on their team.
work in social justice, the liberty move-
employment opportunities. SSDP is reg-
ment, direct service harm reduction, and
ularly contacted by nonprofits and small
other areas of policy reform is long and
businesses alike looking for rockstar
impressive.
up-and-comers to contribute that special SSDP ethos to their teams.
State-legal marijuana industries have opened another door for post-gradua-
And in the coming post-prohibition
tion employment and many of the more
world, there may be no more powerful
visible leaders of that industry cut their
way to bring science, evidence, and com-
teeth while founding SSDP and building
passion to public health and regulation
their chapters. As they become influen-
of drugs — whether alcohol, marijuana,
tial leaders, SSDP alumni ensure the can-
or others — than to have SSDP students
nabis industry remains deeply connected
and alumni engaged in developing and
to its advocacy roots and maintains the
implementing public campaigns or work-
values of responsibility, transparency,
ing in regulated markets.
and social entrepreneurship. Across the nation, SSDP alumni are filling out the
So SSDP is expanding the support of-
ranks of entry- mid-level positions at --
fered to students and alumni through our
or founding -- consulting firms, service
new Career Services program, includ-
providers, law firms, and, yes, legal mari-
ing an online Advocacy + Industry Job
juana providers.
Board, guided internships, and more.
SPONSORS
Senior Sponsor Ideal420.com Junior Sponsors Berkeley Patient Group, Freedom Leaf, Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, Students for Liberty Sophomore Sponsors Arcview Group, Harborside Health Center, Marijuana Policy Project, Vicente Sederberg Freshman Sponsors Americans for Safe Access, Charles Koche Institute, Drug Policy Alliance, FIRE, Harm Reduction Coalition LEAP, MAPS, NORML, Open Society Foundations, Reason
OUTREACH RECRUITMENT AND DIVERSITY What’s ORD and how does SSDP define
the War on Drugs are represented and
and promote diversity?
integrated into SSDP and the drug policy
Mission & Values SSDP Outreach, Recruitment, and Di-
reform movement at large. ORD does this by creating a welcoming, open, and safe space for all stakeholders.
versity Committee (ORD) is a collaborative committee comprised of board and non-board members, students, alumni,
Resources & Further Information ORD offers consultants for your chapter
broadening Students for Sensible Drug
and your events, scholarships to attend
Policy’s (SSDP) base and increasing
SSDP national and regional SSDP confer-
engagement with presently underrepre-
ences as well as other drug policy and
sented perspectives.
intersectional conferences, and valuable
has taken on the challenges of strengthening diversity in all its forms within
experience working on diversity and outreach in SSDP as part of a dedicated team.
SSDP. The committee endeavors to en-
Check us out and donate online at ssdp.
sure that the range of perspectives and
org/diversity, and join our conversation
personal experiences of all communities
on Facebook at http://bit.ly/ssdp-ord
and individuals negatively impacted in
Congratulations to the 2014 SSDP ORD conference scholarship recipients: Crystal Brunt, Ryan Byrd, Stephanie Izquieta, Margarita McAuliffe, Roman
and community members dedicated to
Since its founding in March 2011, ORD
ORD at SSDP Conference 2014
Rivera, Sara Arnold, Tanner Taylor Frederick Marcel Williams III, Melissa Clink, Vivian Perea, Chauncey Scales All are welcome to join committee members, ORD scholarship recipients, and others Saturday evening for dinner, networking and an open conversation about outreach to underrepresented stakeholders and ORD’s role in facilitating diversity. See Event Schedule for details.
28
Congratulations to this year’s SSDP Award nominees!
Change Beyond Campus Award DC SSDP Chapters Florida SSDP Chapters University of Connecticut University of North Georgia Virginia Commonwealth University Dave Borden Friend of SSDP Award ArcView Group Greenbridge Corporate Counsel Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Students for Liberty Vicente Sederberg, LLC Morgan Lesko Online Activism Award Irish SSDP Chapters University of Connecticut Outstanding Alumnus Award (2 winners will be selected) Michael Blunk Sam Chapman Brooke Gilbert Randy Hencken Mike Liszewski Andrew Livingston Amanda Muller Kat Murti Matt Namer Evan Nison Jesse Stout Sam Tracy Chris Wallis Rachelle Yeung
Outstanding Chapter Award (2 winners will be selected) Brown University College of Charleston Louisiana State University Northwestern University Portland State University SUNY New Paltz Tulane University University of Connecticut University of North Georgia University of Rhode Island Virginia Commonwealth University Outstanding Student Activist Award (2 winners will be selected) Romain Bonilla, Portland State University Rose Bono, Virginia Commonwealth University Eric Casey, University of Rhode Island Frances Fu, Northwestern University Stephanie Izquieta, SUNY Binghamton Duell Lauderdale, University of Missouri Vilmarie Narloch, Roosevelt University Nick Rosenberg, University of Maryland Jeremy Sharp, University of North Georgia Emma Tuttleman-Krieger, Tulane University Tyler Williams, University of Connecticut Rachel Wissner, SUNY New Paltz Rising Star Chapter Award Arizona State University George Washington University Lewis & Clark University Texas A&M University – Law School University of Cincinnatti
Rising Star Activist Award Nolan Craft, Northern Michigan University Eric Gudz, University of California – Davis Ben Nathanson, Dickinson College Sarah Saucedo, Arizona State University Nick Watkins, George Washington University Scott & Cyan Banister Campus Change Award Dickinson College Grinnell College Portland State University SUNY New Paltz Western Kentucky University Unsung Hero Award AMPLIFY Volunteers Saul Fougnier Randy Hencken Kris Lotlikar Additionally, there are a few awards for which we will not be announcing nominees, those include: Fundraising Award Grace Under Fire Award Lifetime Achievement Award Stuart Abelson Goodwill Award Randy Hencken Award for Saving Our Asses
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
1011 O Street NW #1, Washington, DC 20001 ssdp@ssdp.org (202) 393-5280 ssdp.org