Sage pip not compatible with PyPI

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I want to make a PyPI package for sage, similar to

https://pypi.python.org/pypi/darmonpo...

or

https://pypi.python.org/pypi/surface_...

that can be installed by anyone by typing one line. But trying these out, the installation instructions don't work! I get an error:

$~/SageMath/sage -pip install surface_dynamics
pip is configured with locations that require TLS/SSL, however the ssl module in Python is not available.
Collecting surface_dynamics
  Could not fetch URL https://pypi.python.org/simple/surface-dynamics/: There was a problem confirming the ssl certificate: Can't connect to HTTPS URL because the SSL module is not available. - skipping
  Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement surface_dynamics (from versions: )
No matching distribution found for surface_dynamics

I believe that it is because sage is using pip 8.x, and a later version is required for PyPI. If I try installing surface_dynamics with using pip 9.01, it downloads it (but gives an error later because it is not in sage), so I do think the version is a problem.

I just updated to sage 8.0. Is this planning to be fixed soon? If there is a workaround for me, I guess that is nice, but it defeats the purpose of getting my code hosted on PyPI if I still have to give the users complicated instructions.

Or maybe my sage installation is broken? Do others get the same error?

EDIT: In light of eric_g's answer, I tried installing the developer version of 8.1. Indeed the sage pip is now 9.01, but the same error persists. So I guess my theory about the versions is wrong. It must be something else funny with the sage pip?