Yo, check it out! Last Prisoner Project just dropped their State of Cannabis Justice Report, and let me tell you, it’s got some real eye-opening facts. See, even though there’s been talk about loosening up the laws on cannabis, ain’t nobody actually been released from prison yet.
So, here’s the deal. On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden made this big announcement that he was gonna pardon over 6,500 people for low-level cannabis offenses. Now, that sounds like a step in the right direction, right? But hold up, because Last Prisoner Project came out and said that not a single person has actually been set free. Yeah, you heard that right.
And that’s not all. President Biden also said he was gonna review the scheduling of cannabis to lower it from Schedule I to Schedule III. But guess what? Unless they fully take it off the schedule, there ain’t gonna be no freedom for the around 3,000 folks still locked up at the federal level for cannabis-related charges.
Now, Last Prisoner Project ain’t just talking about legalization here. They’re talking about justice. They know that just legalizing cannabis ain’t enough to make things right. They wanna undo all the harm caused by the prohibition of this plant. They’re giving props to the 24 states that have passed laws to clear cannabis records and the 10 states that have laws to reduce sentences for cannabis offenses. It’s all about making things right for those who got caught up in this mess.
But yo, it’s been a whole year since President Biden made those promises, and what’s really changed? Not much, my friend. Last Prisoner Project is staying committed to fighting for justice and equity. They wanna tear down the messed up legacy of the War on Drugs and make sure nobody gets left behind.
Now, here’s where you come in. Last Prisoner Project needs your help. They got a bunch of ways you can get involved and make a difference. First off, they want you to hit up your governor and ask them to grant clemency to folks locked up for cannabis. They’ve even got a campaign called Pardons to Progress that makes it easy for you to send letters. So go ahead and get on that, my friend.
But that’s not all. Last Prisoner Project is also shining a light on the stories of people who have been hurt by cannabis criminalization. They got this campaign called Pen to Right History where they’re sharing the voices of folks like Richeda Ashmeade, whose dad is serving 22 years for cannabis. They wanna make sure President Biden knows that he can make things right by granting clemency with just a stroke of his pen.
Now, when it comes to criminal justice reform, Last Prisoner Project is all about three things: getting people released from prison, clearing those cannabis records, and providing support for folks reentering society. It’s about time we start making things right for those who’ve been caught up in this messed up system.
But here’s the real kicker: arrests for cannabis are still happening every day. That’s right, even with all this talk about legalization, people are still getting locked up. Mutulu Olugbala, aka M-1 from dead prez, knows what’s up. He joined the Last Prisoner Project’s Board of Directors and spoke out about how the U.S. is still all about that mass incarceration life. Even with more folks realizing the power of cannabis, the injustice continues.
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, there were over 170,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2021. And yeah, that’s a little lower than the previous year, but it’s still way too many people getting caught up in this nonsense.
Now, there have been some success stories. Like Richard DeLisi, who served 32 years of a 99-year sentence for a nonviolent cannabis offense. He finally got released in Florida at the age of 71. Can you believe that? And then you got Luke Scarmazzo, who got freed after almost 15 years in prison for running a cannabis dispensary in California. These are just a couple of examples, but there’s still so much work to be done.
So, my friend, it’s time to take action. Last Prisoner Project needs your help to make a change. Write those letters, share those stories, and let’s fight for justice, equity, and compassion. We can’t let these injustices continue. It’s time to right the wrongs of the past and make sure nobody else gets left behind.
Remember, the struggle ain’t over yet. But with your support, we can make a difference.
Stay woke, stay strong, and let’s keep fighting for cannabis justice.
