Chelsea Handler, Susan Sarandon, Daveed Diggs, And More Celebs Call For Cannabis Pardons In “Pardons To Progress” Campaign By Headcount’s Cannabis Voter Project & Last Prisoner Project
CALL-TO-ACTION ENCOURAGES FANS TO CONTACT GOVERNORS AT
PARDONSTOPROGRESS.COM. WATCH AND EMBED VIDEO
HERE.
April 20, 2023 - Today, HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project, which mobilizes voters who want to reform cannabis laws, and the Last Prisoner Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform, announced the launch of their Pardons to Progress campaign. The campaign calls for Americans to demand freedom for cannabis prisoners. Pardons to Progress launches with endorsements from a number of celebrities, who are asking their fans to celebrate 4/20 by helping to free the tens of thousands of Americans who are still in jail for cannabis-related offenses. A call-to-action video for Pardons to Progress features notable celebrities including comedian and talk show host Chelsea Handler, Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, Tony Award-winning actor and musical artist Daveed Diggs, Broad City star Ilana Glazer, TV personality and motivational speaker Montel Williams, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Densmore of The Doors, musician Michael Franti, and Siesta Key star Brandon Gomes, amongst others. Check out the video HERE.
In the newly released campaign launch video, the group of entertainers call for their fans to celebrate 4/20 by visiting
PardonsToProgress.com and emailing their governors about issuing pardons for cannabis prisoners. Additional celebrities in support of the Pardons to Progress campaign include Heisman trophy winner and former NFL star
Ricky Williams, rapper and TV personality
JoJo Simmons,
Yesod Williams of
Pepper, and
Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast.
"Americans on both sides of the aisle support pardoning those with cannabis-related convictions. But the public needs to pressure their governors to do what’s right,” said Ricky Williams. “That’s why I am joining the Pardons to Progress campaign to encourage people to urge their governor to use their clemency power to release all cannabis prisoners."
Last year, President Biden announced his plan to pardon 6,500 Americans with federal simple possession of marijuana charges. He called on governors to do the same at the state level, but few of them have taken action so far. HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project and Last Prisoner Project launched Pardons to Progress to bring awareness to this issue and inspire Americans to get loud about this injustice—especially now that marijuana is now legal in some form in 39 states and D.C.
HeadCount, one of the nation's largest voter registration organizations, launched HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project in 2018 as a way to engage and turn out voters through cannabis reform — an issue that is supported across the political spectrum and is a highly motivating cause to many Americans who are otherwise disenchanted with government.
“Millions of Americans will celebrate today by consuming cannabis, but it’s important to remember people are still behind bars for doing the same thing,” said Sam D’Arcangelo, Director of HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project. “Telling your governor how you feel about this injustice is easier than rolling a joint. We encourage everyone to do it.”
"The vast majority of cannabis charges happen on the state level, which is why we have to push governors to use their clemency power to release those still incarcerated for cannabis," said Sarah Gersten, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project. "It is time we end the moral hypocrisy of cannabis criminalization and start to repair the harms of the 'War on Drugs'".
ABOUT LAST PRISONER PROJECT
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform. Through legal interention, direct 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. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more.
ABOUT CANNABIS VOTER PROJECT:
Cannabis Voter Project informs, registers and turns out voters who want to change cannabis policy. Launched by civic engagement organization HeadCount.org in 2018, the Cannabis Voter Project believes it’s important for the cannabis community to be an active and informed voting bloc. For more information visit cannabisvoter.info
ABOUT HEADCOUNT:
HeadCount is a non-partisan non-profit organization that harnesses the power of music, culture and digital media to register voters and inspire participation in democracy. Since 2004, we’ve registered over one million voters through our work with musicians like Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Dead & Co, Harry Styles and Megan Thee Stallion; events including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Pride Festivals, and RuPaul's DragCon; plus partnerships with brands like Spotify, Ben & Jerry’s, and GrubHub. Our award-winning online campaigns have been seen over a billion times, while our 50,000 volunteers can be seen at more than 1,000 live events each year. We reach young people where they already are – at concerts and online – to inform and empower.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
HeadCount Contact:
Hustle&Co.
Last Prisoner Project Contacts:
Press Here
Linda Carbone & Katie Leggett
linda@presshereproductions.com
