Last Prisoner Project Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary with Inaugural Journey to Justice Gala

Stephen Post • September 25, 2024

Honoring Impacted Heroes of the War on Drugs Including Stephanie

Shepard, Andy Cox, Michael Thompson, Richard DeLisi, Richeda Sinclair,

Kyle Page & Donte West


Hosted by Comedian Guy Torry with Performances by M-1 & Umi of dead

prez, Keith Shocklee of Public Enemy PLUS a Surprise Acoustic Set by

Damian & Stephen Marley


Presenters & Notable Attendees Included Calvin “Megatron” Johnson,

JoJo Simmons, Fab 5 Freddy, Kevin Ogletree, Eddie Osefo, Ben Cohen,

Brett Heyman and more


With Sponsors RAW®, Dutchie, Goodwin, Edie Parker, DeLisioso, Wana Brand

Foundation, Redemption Foundation, Primitiv, Ethos, iAnthus, Oaktree Solutions,

Nomad Strategies, Cultivated CBD, Ascend, The Travel Agency, Weedmaps, Rise, GTI,

PAX, 3isFOR, Jeeter and EVIDENCE


PRESS HERE to Download Photos from the Event

NEW YORK, NY – September 25, 2024 – Last night, Last Prisoner Project (LPP) brought together some of the most impactful gamechangers in the cannabis criminal justice movement to celebrate the org’s 5-Year Anniversary during its inaugural Journey to Justice Gala. PRESS HERE to download photos from the evening.


Taking place at Sony Hall in New York City, the night celebrated the impacted heroes of the cannabis industry, and all proceeds from the gala support LPP’s legal, policy and reentry services to ensure the longevity and sustainability of these programs. Each gala table was named after an LPP constituent, and each guest at that table was provided with badge sharing the story of the person their table represented. QR codes directed attendees to LPP’s reentry and family grant programs as well as a platform to make donations to the general commissary funds of those still imprisoned.


Following a cocktail hour that included a performance by Chris Johnson’s String Quartet and several hands-on activations including letter-writing to a cannabis prisoner, audio stories from those currently incarcerated and petitions to sign urging President Biden and Governors to grant cannabis clemency. Last Prisoner Project’s Director of Advocacy, Stephanie Shepard, welcomed guests and spoke about her deep personal relationship to the organization and the fight for justice. “I was convicted in New York so it’s full circle to be here supporting this cause, when I was supported by so many people in this room,” said Stephanie Shepard.


Last Prisoner Project’s Executive Director and Co-Founding Member Sarah Gersten introduced multinational law firm Goodwin, whose partnership with LPP is part of the Cannabis Justice Initiative (CJI) – provides pro bono legal representation to individuals incarcerated under unduly harsh cannabis laws nationwide. “I’m so proud to say that our CJI has represented over 300 clients and reduced over 100 years of prison time for our constituents. We’ve granted relief to people who would have died in prison. Many of whom are here tonight,” said Gersten. One of those individuals is Andy Cox, who was serving a life sentence for cannabis, and was released early as part of CJI. In a moving speech, Cox said “If it weren’t for LPP and Goodwin, I would still be sitting in a dark and lonely federal prison cell. I was sentenced to life, and today I’m overly grateful to those who helped me reclaim my life.”


NFL hall of famer for the Detroit Lions, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, introduced fellow Michigander Michael Thompson, who spent more than two decades behind bars for a nonviolent cannabis sale, and was granted clemency in 2021 by Governor Gretchen Whitmer following national support from Last Prisoner Project as well as notable celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Chelsea Handler, Shaun King and many more. “Thank you to the Last Prisoner Project for supporting me and honoring me tonight,” said Thompson. “They are true fighters. All you gotta do is care, all you gotta do is care.”


LPP’s Managing Director and Co-Founding Member Mary Bailey took to the stage to honor LPP constituent Richard DeLisi, who was one of the longest-serving nonviolent cannabis prisoners in United States history, serving 32 years. LPP played a pivotal role in DeLisi’s 2020 release and since then, the DeLisi family has impacted individuals across the globe through their cannabis brand, DeLisioso, shining a much-needed light on family members affected by the incarceration of their loved ones and contributing resources required to free nonviolent cannabis prisoners around the world. A portion of the proceeds raised by Delisioso have been generously donated to LPP and other orgs to benefit cannabis prisoners and the efforts to release them. “I will never forget the feeling of watching a family reunite after 32 years. It’s such an honor for me to be a champion and a cheerleader for these individuals and to know that strangers around the world are helping them too,” said Bailey.


The premier sponsor for the event was HBI International, established independent and international producers of the RAW® brand of plant-based rolling papers and innovative smoking accessories. In total, RAW has contributed $200,000 to LPP’s reentry grant program which has generated profound impacts on individuals who have recently been released from incarceration on cannabis-related charges.


A seasonal fare of braised short ribs, pecorino and pear stuffed chicken and vegetable ragu were served before Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined via video to offer a few words on the impact of Last Prisoner Project’s Pen to Right History campaign which challenges other governors and leaders across the country to use this pen, just as he did, to sign executive cannabis clemency orders in their own states.


JoJo Simmons (entertainer, entrepreneur and son of the legendary rapper Rev Run of Run DMC) presented Richeda Sinclair with an award for the work she’s done advocating for the release of her father, Ricardo Ashmeade, who is serving a mandatory 22-year minimum prison sentence. As the face of our collaborative Pen to Right History campaign with McCann New York, Richeda is using her voice to advocate for her father and all of the individuals who are serving life sentences in federal prisons nationwide for a plant that’s being legalized and decriminalized all over the country. Following Richeda’s recognition, she received a surprise, prison voice recording from her father who praised her hard work, perseverance, spirit and determination. Richeda hopes that President Biden will grant her father clemency so that he can attend her law school graduation next year after missing so many other milestone moments in her life.


Last Prisoner Project Advocacy Associate Donte West generated a particularly powerful moment while honoring his prison bunkmate Kyle Page, whose journey from incarceration to advocacy is a story of resilience and transformation. Both Donte and Kyle are embodying the fight for freedom and justice by using their voices and experiences to inspire and mobilize others which includes advocating for the release of those who were incarcerated with them including Antonio Wyatt and Deshaun Durham.


The evening’s programming came to a close with a lively paddle raise, led by the night’s emcee, comedian Guy Torry, followed by one of the biggest surprises of the night when Fab 5 Freddy introduced Damian & Stephen Marley who took to the stage to perform an unforgettable, acoustic medley of songs including “Medication” and a tribute to their father, Bob Marley, with “Get Up, Stand Up.” By the end of their performance, everyone was on their feet for LPP Board Member Mutulu “M-1” Olugbala & Umi of dead prez who performed their hit song “Hip-Hop.” Keith Shocklee of legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy brought the successful gala to a close with an epic DJ set that had guests dancing into the night – the perfect end to a remarkable, powerful celebration of the Last Prisoner Project’s five years of impactful work.


Among the hundreds of LPP supporters to attend were Kevin Ogletree, Eddie Osefo, Ben Cohen, Brett Heyman, Joseph “Champelli” Rutherford, Vlad Bautista and many more. Those who couldn’t attend the event can still join the fight to advance the work of LPP by visiting www.lastprisonerproject.org and by getting involved in on-going initiatives such as the #Countdown4Clemency Campaign which creates urgency for President Biden to free people incarcerated for cannabis before the end of his term. PRESS HERE to learn more.



ABOUT LAST PRISONER PROJECT:
The Last Prisoner Project is dedicated to freeing those incarcerated due to the War on Drugs, reuniting their families, and helping them rebuild their lives. As laws change, there remains a fundamental injustice for individuals whose conviction is no longer a crime. We work to repair these harms through legal intervention, constituent support, direct advocacy, and policy change. Text FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more.


Follow Last Prisoner Project:

Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Facebook


For more information, please contact:
PRESS HERE
  Linda Carbone & Katie Leggett

linda@presshereproductions.com, katie@pressherepublicity.com 


PDF VERSION OF THIS PRESS RELEASE

Illegal Here, Legal There: Alexander Kirk’s Journey Through Cannabis Criminalization

By Stephanie Shepard • May 14, 2025
When Alexander Kirk walked out of prison on December 10th, he stepped into a world that had shifted beneath his feet. But the shift wasn’t universal. In Iowa, where he lives, cannabis is still fully illegal. Drive two minutes across the bridge into Illinois, and that same plant, once the root of his decade-long incarceration, is not only legal but a booming, billion-dollar industry. That contradiction sits at the center of Alex’s story. He’s a father, a mechanic, a reader, and a deep thinker. He’s also someone who spent more than ten years of his life behind bars for the same substance that dispensaries now sell with flashy packaging and tax revenue incentives. “It’s crazy,” he says. “One side of the bridge is legal, the other side isn’t. It’s hard to believe.” A Life Interrupted Alex’s most recent sentence—ten years in federal prison—started with a bust that was as much about timing and proximity as anything else. He was on federal probation for a previous cannabis offense. A raid at a residence he didn’t live in, but where his truck was parked, ended with a federal indictment. A tip from his child’s mother, who was angry about a disagreement over vacation plans, helped open the door for the investigation. “She made a call, gave them a tip,” Alex recalls, without bitterness, just clarity. “And that’s all it took.” The charges? Conspiracy to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana—a charge that, while less than the quantities tied to large-scale trafficking operations, still carried weight under federal law. He received 80 months for the new charge and another 40 months for violating parole. The math added up to a lost decade. “I had already done ten and a half years the first time,” Alex says. “I was institutionalized. Prison became familiar. It’s where I knew how to move.” But even when you know the rules, prison isn’t easy. The hardest part for Alex wasn’t the food, the routines, or the guards—it was missing his children growing up. “I got five kids. Three of the older ones talked to me after and explained how I chose the streets over them. That was hard. But it was true.” He reflects on it now with a kind of painful honesty: “I didn’t want to pay for weed, so I started selling it. I smoked, and I hustled. Eventually, it got out of hand.” Knowledge Behind Bars Alex didn’t spend his time in prison passively. He worked in the prison garage, learning to fix cars—something he’d loved as a kid. He dove into books and self-help titles. One that stuck with him was The Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz. “That one changed things,” he says. “It helped me realize everyone’s got their own story they’re telling themselves. That helped me stop taking things so personally.” He also began thinking about the world beyond prison. He drafted a business plan for a youth program designed to keep teens from ending up like him. “I wanted to show them they had options,” he says. “You don’t always get that when you grow up in survival mode.” The Politics of Legalization What’s jarring about Alex’s story is not just the sentence—it’s the fact that it happened while the national conversation around cannabis was changing rapidly. By the time Alex was halfway through his sentence, multiple states had legalized recreational marijuana. Billion-dollar brands were being built. Politicians were posing for ribbon-cuttings at dispensaries. Celebrities were launching product lines. And people like Alex were still behind bars. “It’s unjust,” he says bluntly. “There’s no reason someone should be locked up for weed while companies are out here getting rich off it. The little guy got crushed. They legalized it after locking us up, but didn’t let us out.” The irony was never lost on him: that he was doing hard time for something that was now a tax revenue stream in neighboring Illinois. A Second Chance and Real Support Alex’s sentence was reduced under the First Step Act—a federal law aimed at correcting some of the harshest penalties in the justice system. Thanks to that and a longer placement in a halfway house, he was released earlier than expected. Through a friend, he reconnected with a woman from his past who introduced him to the Last Prisoner Project (LPP) . At first, he was skeptical. “We never heard about people helping folks like us. I didn’t think it was real.” But he gave it a chance—and found not just advocacy, but consistency. “Even getting emails, updates, hearing from people… that helped. It made me feel like someone gave a damn.” Through LPP, he learned that he qualifies as a social equity candidate in states with legalization programs. That means access to business licenses and support that could help him transition into the legal cannabis industry. He also learned he might qualify for early termination of his probation—a process he’s now pursuing. “I want to get into the legal side,” he says. “I know the game. I lived it. Now I want to do it right.” Life After Prison Alex is currently working in the halfway house kitchen. He’s trying to stay grounded, focused, and patient. Reentry is never easy. “You come out and everything is fast. You feel like you’re behind. But I remind myself: it’s not a race.” He’s rebuilding relationships with his kids. He’s focused on starting a business—maybe something in cannabis or something with cars. He hasn’t fully decided, but he knows he wants to help others, too.  “There’s still a lot of people inside,” he says. “And they shouldn’t be. Not for weed. If we’re really gonna legalize it, let’s legalize it for everybody. That means letting people go.” “Get to Know Their Story” Alex doesn’t want pity. He’s not asking for a handout. What he wants is what most people want: a chance to live free, to work, to be with his family. To matter. “Just because someone’s been to prison doesn’t make them violent. Doesn’t make them a bad person. Get to know their story.” Alex’s story is one of transformation, not because the system rehabilitated him, but because he did the work on his own. Now he wants to use his experience to change the system itself. He’s already started.

Pennsylvania’s HB1200 to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis Includes Last Prisoner Project Language for Retroactive Relief

By Lulanne Alexander • May 6, 2025
Bill advances long-overdue justice and support for communities most impacted by the War on Drugs Philadelphia, PA — The Last Prisoner Project praised the Pennsylvania House for passing House Bill 1200 , a comprehensive cannabis legalization and regulation bill that centers justice, retroactive relief, and public health. Sponsored by Chair Dan Frankel, Representatives Rick Krajewski and, HB1200 charts a bold path forward for Pennsylvania to not only end cannabis prohibition but also repair the damage it has caused — especially to Black and Brown communities. "Pennsylvania is long overdue for cannabis reform, and while HB1200 is not perfect, it seeks to undo the deep harms of prohibition,” said Adrian Rocha, Director of Policy at the Last Prisoner Project . “This bill recognizes that legalization without justice is not enough. Through automatic expungement and retroactive relief, HB1200 sets a new standard for what responsible, people-first cannabis policy should look like. As the General Assembly continues to debate other important aspects of this bill, the Last Prisoner Project urges Pennsylvania lawmakers not lose lose sight of the broad consensus that legalization without retroactive relief is not best interest of justice or the Commonwealth. ” Despite shifting public opinion and growing national momentum, Pennsylvania continues to criminalize people for marijuana use. This criminalization has devastated families and communities, created an unregulated market, and deprived the state of much-needed tax revenue. HB1200 directly addresses these issues by including provisions for automatic expungement of past nonviolent cannabis offenses, sentence modification for those serving time for cannabis, investments in communities most impacted by the War on Drugs, and strong public health protections. HB 1200 will now move to through the Senate voting process.

Lawmakers Kickoff Cannabis Unity Week as Advocates Return to Capitol Hill to Call for Federal Cannabis Reform

By Stephen Post • April 29, 2025
The Cannabis Unity Coalition Hosts Multi-Day Activism Event that Includes a Press Conference, Lobby Day, and White House Rally to Free Those Still Incarcerated Download Photos + Videos from the Week’s Events Tuesday, April 29th (Washington D.C.) - As Americans across the country celebrated the 4/20 cannabis holiday last week, tens of thousands of people sat in prisons incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses, licensed cannabis businesses struggled, and the federal government's cannabis reclassification process remained stalled. But this week, lawmakers and advocates are gathering on Capitol Hill to harness their movements’ momentum and enact change. Mobilizing the 70% of the public that supports legalization into political pressure, the Cannabis Unity Coalition — the largest bipartisan alliance of advocacy, industry, and grassroots organizations — is leading Cannabis Unity Week of Action this week, taking place April 29–May 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The multi-day event brings together advocates, impacted individuals, and industry leaders to pressure Congress and the Trump administration to fully legalize cannabis and deliver retroactive relief to those harmed by outdated prohibition-era policies. Advocates started the week today with a congressional press conference at the House Press Triangle, where they were joined by Congressional Cannabis Caucus members Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nevada), alongside other representatives who spoke about current legislative efforts. The press conference was followed by a welcome ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. “It’s a pleasure to join the Cannabis Unity Coalition on Capitol Hill to call for federal cannabis reform,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) . “As Co-Chair of the Cannabis Caucus, I am dedicated to working with advocates to modernize the government’s outdated approach to cannabis and ensure that common-sense legislation is advanced in Congress.” “It’s beyond time to legalize cannabis nationwide and expunge records for those incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses,” said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) , newly elected co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. "I’m incredibly grateful for the partnership of the members of the Cannabis Unity Coalition and look forward to working together to get this done." As part of their 4/20 clemency campaign with LPP , members of Ben & Jerry’s advocacy team joined to help build awareness and mobilize grassroots efforts to demand clemency from governors across the country. Wednesday will be dedicated to our Lobby Day where attendees will meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for cannabis reform, particularly the newly reintroduced STATES 2.0 Act and PREPARE Act . Coalition partners have planned meetings with elected officials from both parties in the House and Senate including Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) , Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) , Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Sen. Andy Kim (D-New Jersey), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-California), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) , and other offices to call for the full legalization of cannabis, the removal of criminal penalties, and retroactive relief. Events will conclude Thursday evening with a Cannabis Freedom Rally outside the White House from 4-9 p.m. to honor those still incarcerated for cannabis and demand their freedom via presidential clemency. The rally will feature previously incarcerated activists like Donte West , Kyle Page , and Deshaun Durham , who was granted cannabis clemency by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly at the end of last year. These activists will lend their voices to the actions and share their powerful stories. The Cannabis Unity Coalition is made up of a broad array of advocate groups span across political boundaries and includes Last Prisoner Project (LPP), members of the Marijuana Justice Coalition (MJC) like Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Veterans Cannabis Coalition, and Parabola Center; members of the Cannabis Freedom Alliance (CFA) like the Reason Foundation and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP); Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), which is a member of both coalitions; and industry groups like, National Craft Cannabis Coalition, National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA), Asian Cannabis Roundtable, and National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers (NABCL); other organizaitons include Freedom Grow, Marijuana Justice, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), Supernova Women, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, DCMJ, Just Leadership USA (JLUSA), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Coalition for Drug Legalization and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Mission Green, Latinas in Cannabis, the Equity Trade Network, Cannademix, and Free My Weed Man. Those who can’t join us in D.C. can still participate virtually by contacting your federal representatives and asking them to #DecriminalizeNow, urging your governor to grant clemency to those in your state still incarcerated for cannabis, and following along through our livestream. Learn more and take action at LPP.la/CannabisUnityWeek . ABOUT LAST PRISONER PROJECT Last Prisoner Project is dedicated to freeing those incarcerated due to the War on Drugs, reuniting their families, and helping them rebuild their lives. As laws change, there remains a fundamental injustice for individuals whose conviction is no longer a crime. We work to repair these harms through legal intervention, constituent support, direct advocacy, and policy change. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more. Follow Last Prisoner Project: Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Facebook Press contact: Stephen Post LPP Communications Manager stephen@lastprisonerproejct.org