LPP Testifies to Encourage Criminal Justice Provisions in New Hampshire’s Legalization Bills

Frances Trousdale • April 25, 2023

On April 20th, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee met to discuss the cannabis legalization efforts put forth in House Bill 639.


While Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is excited that the state is contemplating legalization, we urged the legislature to further prioritize criminal justice provisions in these bills. We were happy to see that HB 639 includes an avenue to vacate some pending cannabis charges, but we were ultimately disappointed that HB 639 does not offer processes for neither record-clearance nor resentencing. 


At LPP, we believe that legalization is only a start to remedying the harms of past criminalization. In order to properly provide justice, legalization must offer retroactive relief through record clearance and resentencing. We look forward to continuing to support New Hampshire as the state works to enact a justice-informed policy for 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.