3 Years In: Celebrating Last Prisoner Projects Accomplishments Since 2019
Written by: Aly K. Benson
AKB is a biracial indigenous media personality & digital strategy consultant in the Canadian cannabis industry based out of Abbotsford, BC.
It’s odd to think that in 15 years, we will be telling the tale of how cannabis received its illegal status under the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Imagine the impact and the vast influence cannabis could have on our society a decade and a half into our future. Given cannabis’ change in “prohibited” status in the last few years, recreational and medical use of cannabis is becoming increasingly popular. Pressure is rising to legalize and decriminalize - especially with Canada welcoming the opportunity to federally legalize cannabis in 2018. Currently, adult-use and medical legalization bills have been approved in all but two states (Idaho and Nebraska), with low THC/CBD use legal in 9 states. But what about progress on the federal level? Many lawmakers in the United States were believed to be at a standstill for legitimizing logistics to federally legalize medical and recreational cannabis in the United States.
Until recently, many cannabis industry workers, consumers, and advocates worried about the timeline for federal legalization; that is until 2019, when the Last Prisoner Project began changing the game with programs, partnerships, and advocacy movements reducing the timeline significantly. One of the most impressive aspects of the Last Prisoner Project was their involvement in the development of the MORE Act. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment Expungement (MORE) Act was recently passed this April. Here is a summary of what the MORE Act changes will initiate:
Passed House (04/01/2022)
Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act or the MORE Act
This bill decriminalizes marijuana.
Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana.
The bill also makes other changes, including the following:
replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis,
requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees,
establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs,
imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses,
makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers,
prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions,
prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction),
establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses,
directs the Government Accountability Office to study the societal impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis,
directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study methods for determining whether a driver is impaired by marijuana,
directs the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to study the impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis on the workplace, and
directs the Department of Education to study the impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis on schools and school-aged children.
Why Last Prisoner Project Matters
The Last Prisoner Project is one of the most recognizable cannabis-based non-profit organizations established in 2019 to right the wrongs of The War on Drugs. As federal legalization inches closer in America, the puzzle pieces to allow legalization have finally begun putting themselves together. After the MORE Act was passed a few weeks ago, organizations like the Last Prisoner Project are closer to achieving their goals. For LPP, the ultimate achievement reconciles 40,000 unjust cannabis convictions - their vision, efforts, and drive are rooted in the history of cannabis communities and deep respect for the legacy. LPP team takes an approach filled with effort and care to spotlight the stories of the people behind the movement, whether they are grant recipients, Reentry Program participants, or LPP team members.
@lastprisonerproject Instagram Caption: “We’re happy to announce that LPP constituent Gilbert Manning was released this week to home confinement! Gilbert served nearly 9 years of a 17.5-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute and possess cannabis.
Gilbert is looking forward to reconnecting with family, including his parents, wife, and kids. As a previous owner/operator of a commercial trucking company, Gilbert plans to eventually go back into trucking after he renews his CDL.
To his supporters, he says, ‘To all that played a role in advocating for my release, thank you and God Bless.’ “
About the Programs
A large portion of the building blocks used to create LPPs stemmed from the life of LPPs founder Steve DeAngelo or “the father of the legal industry.” DeAngelo has been a core leader in cannabis advocacy, injustice intervention, and legislation change since the 1970s in California. His brother Andrew, who is now Board Chairman of LPP, experienced the harsh ripple effect of cannabis convictions on families when Steve was sentenced to jail on cannabis charges. As a result, the DeAngelo brothers have become a household name for cannabis activists and community members. In addition, Steve DeAngelo has spearheaded four decades of advocacy and entrepreneurship. He has taken some significant steps, including creating Steep Hill Laboratory (one of the first cannabis analytic companies), Washington DC’s medical cannabis Initiative 59, and California’s recreational Prop 64 bill passage.
The inspiration behind LPP originated from the experiences of those who have been incarcerated with cannabis possession, intent to distribute, etc. Applicants in the reentry program can receive a portion to fund expenses like housing, dependent support, court fees, and educational and professional development. LPP directs funds to provide financial assistance and support systems for the incarcerated and their families, such as:
Release Programs
Reentry Resources & Partnerships
Rebuilding Families Program
Budtender Programs
Roll It Up for Justice
LPP has worked endlessly to decrease the shocking statistics concerning the judicial system and sentencing controversies around marijuana in America. For example, on lastprisonerproject.org, it is stated that 67 percent of persons who were previously incarcerated will be arrested again within three years of their release. In contrast to this, LPPs recent Financial reports presented staggering analytics with over $750,000 distributed to funding scholarships & grants, 58 active cases supported by the LPP Legal program, and engagements from 25 states.
Around every turn of the decriminalization vs. legalization dispute, the Last Prisoner Project has increased its involvement and advocacy. During the MORE Act review and eventual passing, LPP team members bridged critical gaps with over two-thirds of congress. There is no doubt that the Last Prisoner Project is spearheading criminal justice and cannabis reform in North America to initiate actual change.
Passion for Education
At the root of all activism comes the integral component of education. Not only do many team members and collaborating brands have focused roles in educational systems, but LPP also has two well-established partnerships with Oaksterdam University and Greenflower. Oaksterdam is one of the first cannabis-focussed universities, and Green Flower recently announced partnerships with multiple universities across the USA. LPP pays positive actions forward through these programs by supporting returning citizens with scholarships and grant programs.
Budtender Involvement
You may be thinking that the Last Prisoner Project seems to tackle cannabis reform from all ends, and you are not wrong. No matter the industry, LPP is set on leading the initiative to change - budtenders and all. LPP has created ongoing programs for cannabis equality on the federal and state levels, but they are also involved personally in the industry with budtenders. LPP provides updates on opportunities for budtenders, access to their Toptender platform for educational materials, and further access to LPP insights. The second “boots on the ground” initiative developed is the Roll it Up for Justice Program. This campaign is accessible nationwide for cannabis dispensaries to add a “Donate to Last Prisoner Project” at their checkout stations or on e-commerce platforms.
The history behind LPP’s involvement in dispensaries and budtenders can be traced back to Steve DeAngelo’s past projects like Harborside (one of the first licensed dispensaries in America and now a publicly-traded company in Canada). To date, the Last Prisoner Project has upwards of 22 dispensary business partnerships and 350 retail shops enrolled in the Roll it Up for Justice Program.
There’s More Progress to be Made
A year into operations, LPP began the Cannabis clemency Program alongside national criminal justice organizations, including the Office of American Innovation and the White House. Across America, LPP has gained support and endorsement from countless government officials, scientists, lawyers, and many more to have federally imprisoned individuals released with pro-bono-backed efforts. Once 2020 had concluded, LPP had four federal clemency petitions actively being worked on via co-sponsorship with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The Last Prisoner Project has been gaining traction and shattering expectations for progress and equality in the cannabis sector since 2019. In 2021, the High Times list of the top 100 influential individuals in cannabis was released, granting LPP’s Managing Director, Mary Bailey. It’s no doubt the traction LPP has gained from supporters is because of the true, honest, and passionate messaging that no one should be incarcerated due to cannabis-related charges, especially possession.
Legal fellow Mariah Daly shared her perspective on cannabis incarcerations in a High Times Magazine leading up to 2022’s 420 celebrations stating, “Many of our constituents were sentenced to life, de facto life, or 20+ years for their cannabis offense… No other drugs were involved in the underlying offenses and these [people] have zero history of violence/sex offenses over the course of their lifetime.”
When operating for a relatively short amount of time, most onlookers wouldn’t expect such a large amount of progress. However, LPP shows the true strength of the cannabis community and the movements for legalization, decriminalization, and stigma changes. If you are interested in supporting the Last Prisoner Project Movement, visit their website www.lastprisonerproject.org.
Resources:
https://hightimes.com/activism/why-should-we-care-if-pot-offenders-get-released-from-prison/
https://www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers
https://drugpolicy.org/issues/drug-war-statistics
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3617
https://hightimes.com/culture/the-high-times-100-of-2021/
https://stevedeangelo.com/about-stev
https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/mission-and-visione-deangelo/
https://irp.cdn-website.com/08efa45c/files/uploaded/LPP%20Annual%20Report%202020.pdf