LPP Testifies in Support of Minnesota Legalization Bill

Frances Trousdale • January 25, 2023

On January 25th, the Minnesota Judiciary and Public Safety committee met to discuss the legalization efforts put forth in House Bill 100 and Senate Bill 73. 


The Last Prisoner Project was thrilled to see that this legalization bill contemplates mechanisms for state-initiated record clearance and resentencing, but nonetheless identified areas in which the bill could be improved to ensure that it provides adequate relief to those harmed by the War on Drugs. 


To that end, LPP provided the committee with detailed feedback on ways they could improve the bill’s criminal justice-related provisions. We also submitted testimony in advance of the hearing urging the legislature to prioritize these criminal justice provisions when considering the bill’s passage. 


We look forward to continuing to support Minnesota as they work towards a justice-informed path to cannabis legalization. 


Click here to read our testimony.

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.