CHANGE IS COMING
FIGHTING CRIMINAL INJUSTICE AND REIMAGINING DRUG POLICY
Imagine sitting in a cell for years, decades, or even for life, convicted of an activity that is no longer a crime, while thousands of other people build intergenerational wealth doing exactly the same thing.
That is the situation that tens of thousands of cannabis prisoners face today in the United States alone, while countless others languish in jails and prisons worldwide.
The Last Prisoner Project has one singular mission: to set them free.
WE WILL NOT REST AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL
THE LAST CANNABIS PRISONER IS SET FREE.
HOW WE HELP
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform.
Through legal intervention, constituent support, advocacy campaigns, and policy change we aim to release every last cannabis prisoner, as well as to repair the harms of this discriminatory and counterproductive crusade.
THE PROBLEM
BY THE NUMBERS
15.7
MILLION
MILLION
Number people arrested for marijuana offenses over the past two decades.
$47
BILLION
BILLION
Annual expenditures for the United States "War on Drugs".
10.4
BILLION
BILLION
U.S. legal cannabis market size in 2022
LATEST FROM OUR BLOG
Rescheduling is not legalization, and the existing penalties for cannabis remain unchanged. In October of 2022, President Biden made a series of historic cannabis-related executive actions. First, he signaled his intent to pardon individuals convicted of certain federal cannabis offenses, a promise LPP continues to ensure is fulfilled at the federal and state level . In that same announcement, the President also committed the Department of Justice to work with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly review how cannabis is scheduled under federal law. Yesterday’s announcement by the HHS to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug is the culmination of a nearly year-long scientific and medical evaluation, but what exactly does it mean? What Is Drug Scheduling? In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act into law. Title II of that legislation, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), created a process for classifying illicit drugs, substances, and chemicals into five distinct categories or schedules. Substances are placed into each schedule based on their medical value, safety for medical treatment, and potential for dependency and/or abuse. These classifications work on a sliding scale: Schedule I drugs are substances deemed to have no medical use and contain a high potential for abuse; Schedule II-V drugs are considered to have some medical value and lower but varying potential for dependence or abuse. A substance’s schedule has both legal, financial, and regulatory implications. For example, the CSA explicitly outlawed the commerce of Schedule I drugs, meaning it is illegal to conduct any business or economic activity that involves a Schedule I Drug. Additionally, Schedule I drugs are subject to more restrictions on research, supply, and access than Schedule II drugs, which are subject to more restrictions than substances in Schedule III-V. Below are some examples of how certain substances are currently regulated:
Antonio Wyatt is currently serving more than an 11-year sentence after he was convicted on a first-time offense for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture/grow, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp in the State of Kansas. On May 9, 2017, Antonio was driving on Interstate-70 from Colorado to his home state of Tennessee when an officer pulled him over for a traffic stop and smelled cannabis in his vehicle. The officer then searched his vehicle and found 8 pounds of cannabis. Mr. Wyatt was convicted after a bench trial and on February 16, 2018, was sentenced to 142 months in prison. This non-violent offense occurred over 6 years ago, when he was 38-years-old. Now 44, Antonio’s sentence is overly excessive for someone who does not pose a threat to his community and has no ties to Kansas. Antonio has shown dedication to successfully reentering society by taking classes and working as a barber in the prison, which he is licensed by the State of Tennessee. His good disciplinary record has even allowed him to leave the prison to share his story with at-risk youth. Antonio has a 4-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter. He deserves to be free of this unjust sentence and return home to Tennessee where he will be reunited with his family who will support him. Even key community members like Tonya Hancock, District 9 Metro Councilor, support Antonio’s second chance and have offered him the opportunity to participate in the local Metro Nashville Police Department's Citizen Academy. While Governor Kelly may be amicable to granting Antonio clemency given her previous cannabis commutations , including LPP constituent Joseph Agrillo , we have to get Antonio’s case to her desk first. Kansas’ clemency process requires the Prisoner Review Board to review cases and make a recommendation before sending it to the Governor for a final decision. In 2021, Antonio was denied justice in his previous attempt at clemency by the Prisoner Review Board. But now, with the help of lawyer-advocate Barry Grissom, we are refiling Antonio’s clemency petition and continuing the fight for his freedom. Thus, Last Prisoner Project is launching the #FreeAntonioWyatt advocacy campaign to generate public pressure on the Kansas Prisoner Review Board and Governor Laura Kelly to do just that! We encourage you to use the information on our website to write, call, and email their offices and urge them to free Antonio Wyatt.
Last Prisoner Project is happy to announce the release of constituent Sharu Bey, who was granted a compassionate release motion on Aug. 2, 2023 after serving almost 16 years for a cannabis offense. Sharu was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, aiding and abetting, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the Western District of North Carolina. This offense occurred approximately 16 years ago, when he was 39-years-old. Mr. Bey was convicted by a jury and on January 8, 2010, was sentenced to 261 months in prison and eight years of supervised release. Sharu, now 55-years-old, had served over half of his sentence. “Words really can't describe that type of time away from your family.” Sharu said. “And to also have two sisters take there lives while your incarcerated is more than one can bare. In all honesty...had it not been for God I truly don't believe I would have made it.” LPP has worked with Mr. Bey over the last year and a half and, upon his release, assisted by offering financial assistance to help support with housing, transportation, and other reentry needs. LPP will continue to offer support to Sharu on his reentry journey. Sharu is currently working as a Certified Peer Support Specialist where he loves his job and being of service. Speaking on the support he has received, Sharu said, “Let it be known that the support you give a man when he is going through it, means more than you could ever imagine. After so many years of feeling like you’re alone in this fight, it feels so good to have someone in your corner fighting with you. This makes a difference no matter if you win or lose.” We would like to thank NACDL and Liz Budnitz for filing Sharu’s compassionate release motion and helping him through the legal process.
For Everyone Collective And Last Prisoner Project Release Their First-Ever Merchandise Collaboration
Today, For Everyone Collective and Last Prisoner Project released their first-ever merchandise collaboration titled “How Did a Plant Become Illegal?” . This joint-project brings together two mission-driven organizations seeking to empower those currently and formerly incarcerated. This collaboration will feature the history of cannabis and its criminalization. From when it began growing on the planet over 25 million years ago to today’s cannabis industry generating over $24 billion per year. Unfortunately, those most impacted by America’s criminalization of cannabis have yet to benefit from new laws that legalize the industry. For Everyone Collective is a worker-owned creative shop, driving their mission to fuel sustainable earnings, free health insurance and community building between people who’ve been impacted by incarceration. “We’re excited to collab with Last Prisoner Project in this timely project. Our organizations’ mission to support those currently and formerly incarcerated was sparked by the known injustices in the American legal system, said a For Everyone spokesperson. Black, Brown, and poor communities have suffered from these predatory laws, causing long-term generational trauma and limiting opportunities to grow wealth.” The Last Prisoner Project is centered on reforming cannabis policies that has fueled mass incarceration of Black and brown people. Since 2019, LPP has supported current and formerly incarcerated for cannabis offenses through several programs focused on clemency, reentry, and advocacy campaigns. "We are so thrilled to partner with For Everyone, a company that centers directly impacted individuals and their families, to design apparel that informs and educates the public on how prohibition was designed to disenfranchise communities of color from the start, stated Sarah Gersten, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project . We are especially proud that all proceeds will be going to our constituents currently incarcerated for cannabis.” Ambassadors of this collaboration include, Cheech & Chong, MTV reality star, Brandon Gomes, Musicians B Real and Melissa Etheridge, Doug Benson and Alicia, co-hosts of "Getting Doug with High" Podcast and Tiktok influencer, Jessica Golich. Starting August 4, customers will be able to view the “How Did a Plant Become Illegal?” collection. Proceeds after cost of production and shipping will support people that are currently or formerly incarcerated for cannabis through Last Prisoner Project’s Constituent Support Fund .
