Students For Sensible Drug Policy - Mission, Values and Structure As A Grassroots Organization

Mission, Values and Structure As A Grassroots Organization

Mission Statement: "Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society. SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth."

Values Statement: "Students for Sensible Drug Policy neither encourages nor condemns drug use. Rather, we seek to reduce the harms caused by drug abuse and drug policies. As young people, we strive toward a just and compassionate society where drug abuse is treated as a health issue instead of a criminal justice issue. We recognize that the very real harms of drug abuse are not adequately addressed by current policies and we advocate measures that would effectively help those who develop drug problems. Yet, we also believe that individuals must ultimately be allowed to make decisions for themselves as long as their actions do not infringe upon anyone else’s freedoms or safety.

Because the War on Drugs has historically been justified as necessary to protect youth, it is our responsibility as young people to stop this harmful war from being waged in our names any longer. As scholars, we seek solutions to society's drug problems through focused research, honest dialogue, and informed debate, instead of unquestioned extremism, punishment, and propaganda."

Structure as a Grassroots Organization: SSDP comprises student chapters all across the country. Any student can start a chapter after receiving proper authorization from the national office. While SSDP has a variety of national campaigns and actions that nearly everyone can participate in, chapters are also encouraged to work on those issues that have the most traction in their own communities or with the national political climate, such as marijuana legalization. SSDPers convene annually for a national conference. At national and regional conferences, students acquire essential activist knowledge and skills, network with other chapter leaders, learn how to become more effective drug policy reform activists, and meet new friends. Also, chapters elect students to serve on SSDP's Board of Directors. The Board in turn selects SSDP's executive director who is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the organization, as well as determining the explicit long-term goals. An important duty of the executive director is to hire staff and conduct interviews. Currently, besides an executive director, SSDP has an associate director, two or three outreach directors, an international liaison, a webmaster, an office administrator, a graphic designer, and a paid intern. Ultimately, the SSDP staff exists to advise SSDP's chapters and activists while promoting the SSDP brand in the national media.

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