As we head into the week of 4/20, Last Prisoner Project is urging the cannabis community to pause the smoke sesh and acknowledge the criminal injustice of having tens of thousands still languishing behind bars while others have the privilege of reaping the benefit of selling cannabis and consumers can openly celebrate. LPP believes that anyone profiting from or freely engaging in the legal cannabis industry has a moral imperative to work towards restorative justice. 

Thus, LPP is empowering the public and our partners through our 4/20 For Justice advocacy efforts. Whether it be writing a letter of hope to a person currently incarcerated for cannabis, taking direct action via calls, emails, or petitions, or by supporting our critically-needed legal and reentry programs through a matching-donation via Dutchie, we need your help in calling attention to the hypocrisy of cannabis criminalization. No one should remain incarcerated or continue to suffer the collateral consequences of prohibition and the War on Drugs which has and continues to disproportionately impact communities of color.

To further our 4/20 For Justice impact, LPP has created a number of partnerships around 4/20 including with House of Wise, Trulieve, and more. In addition, LPP staff are speaking, tabling, and participating in a variety of 4/20 related events including the National Cannabis Festival  & Policy Summit, Benzinga Cannabis Conference, and educational dispensary events. However, the most important part of our 4/20 For Justice advocacy is focused on supporting our constituents.

We recently asked some of our currently incarcerated cannabis constituents to send us their thoughts answering the question, "What does 420 mean to you?”  Edwin Rubis has served 24 years of a 40-year sentence in federal prison for a non-violent marijuana offense. He told LPP, "This year, cannabis enthusiasts will celebrate 4/20 around the world. In America, thousands will toke up with their friends in their respective states where cannabis is legal. Marijuana businesses will take advantage of the holiday to sell and market their products. Not me.”

Edwin continued saying, “ ...on this special day, all I can muster is a glimmer of hope and faith that someone will speak on our behalf, that someone will remember the forgotten ones, that someone will pledge and sponsor us, to ultimately bring us home to celebrate 4/20 with our friends and loved ones."

You can visit our 4/20 For Justice webpage to see all the actions you can take and and how you can share more 4/20 stories like Edwin’s to amplify public awareness. 

Towards Freedom….