Anastacia “Stacia” Cosner is the Deputy Director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Stacia got involved with drug policy when she joined the campus SSDP chapter as a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2005. The next year, she was elected President of the UMD SSDP chapter, a role she served from 2006-2008.
While on campus, Stacia was elected to the University Senate, where she pushed for the equalization of judicial sanctions for marijuana and underage drinking and introduced a Good Samaritan Policy that was recently adopted by the University Senate. Also during her time as an undergrad, Stacia testified before the Maryland state legislature on several occasions regarding bills dealing with financial aid eligibility, felony voter disenfranchisement, mandatory minimum sentences, medical marijuana, Good Samaritan practices, among others.
Stacia was elected to SSDP’s national board of directors in 2006, serving her first year as Secretary and second year as Vice Chair. Prior to being hired by SSDP in June 2009, Stacia completed internships with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (2006), the Marijuana Policy Project (2007), the Institute for Humane Studies (2008), and DRCNet/StopTheDrugWar.org (2009).
When building the cannabis industry from the ground up, why is gender parity (having at least 50% women) so important?
Because we have an opportunity to build gender parity into this industry, and we’d be remiss not to make that a priority.
What social justice and/or criminal justice reforms do you want the US to make around its drug policy, particularly around cannabis?
No one should go to jail simply for putting something in their own body.
How do you incorporate gender parity, social justice, and environmental sustainability into your work and the growth of your business/organization?
SSDP is proudly run by women, and we take great pride in creating a space that elevates and empowers women in the drug policy reform movement. Social justice is the cornerstone of our mission, informing everything that we do.
Social Media Handles:
Facebook: @TheStacia
Twitter: @TheStacia
Instagram: @TheStacia
