LPP Statement on Recently-Released Drug Enforcement Administration Arrest Data

June 28, 2022

"A betrayal of public confidence"

Recently released data from the Drug Enforcement Administration indicates that federal cannabis arrests jumped 25% YoY.


Even more jarringly, the 6,606 arrests made in 2021 represent the highest number of federal arrests since 2011 (when federal law enforcement authorities made 8,500 marijuana-related arrests).


Last Prisoner Project is deeply disappointed to see this uptick, which runs counter to public sentiment as well as the Biden Administration’s repeated pledges to deprioritize cannabis law enforcement and pursue desperately-needed reforms.


"This news represents a clear betrayal of public confidence. As we, other activists, and the American people have repeatedly made clear — federal authorities should not be using precious time and resources to pursue cannabis law enforcement. We are concerned that the past decade of cannabis-related decarceration is slowly being undone by this needless and unjust crusade. We implore the Biden Administration to divert this time, energy and money in pursuit of an end to federal prohibition and the release of federal cannabis prisoners."


-- Sarah Gersten, Last Prisoner Project Executive Director and General Counsel

Edwin Rubis: Thanksgiving As An Incarcerated Cannabis Prisoner

By Edwin Rubis • December 5, 2025
This past Thanksgiving, Edwin Rubis shared his thoughts with us about spending another Thanksgiving behind prison walls, separated from his elderly mother, his sons, and his grandchildren:

From Teacher to Prisoner to Advocate: The Redemption of Michael Masecchia

By Stephanie Shepard • November 25, 2025
Michael Masecchia spent decades shaping young lives as a beloved teacher and coach in Buffalo. Baseball, football, softball, and more, he dedicated himself to mentorship and community. But in 2019, his life was upended in an instant. A federal raid for cannabis, a swarm of law enforcement, and a harsh sentence threatened not just his freedom, but the very identity he had built. This is the story of how Michael survived the injustice, found purpose behind bars, and ultimately returned home, a story of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of advocacy.

Last Prisoner Project’s “Journey to Justice” Gala Celebrates Freedom, Family, and the Fight to End Cannabis Incarceration

October 27, 2025
Featuring Carmelo Anthony, Omari Hardwick, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, and other cultural icons, the NYC event united artists, advocates, and changemakers to advance cannabis justice.