SSDP is comprised of youth-led chapters across the globe. Any young person can start a chapter on their campus or in their community. While SSDP has a variety of campaigns and actions anyone can support, chapters are encouraged to address the most urgent issues in their communities. Annually, SSDP members convene for a global conference where young people acquire essential community organizing and activist knowledge and skills, forge bonds to support lifelong advocacy, and govern the organization through voting on resolutions and electing student Directors of the Board, who fill two-thirds of the seats on the board.

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

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