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CHANGE IS COMING


FIGHTING CRIMINAL INJUSTICE AND REIMAGINING DRUG POLICY

Imagine sitting in a cell for years, decades, or even for life, convicted of an
activity that is no longer a crime, while thousands of other people build
intergenerational wealth doing exactly the same thing.




 That is the situation that tens of thousands of drug war prisoners face today
in the United States alone, while countless others languish in jails and prisons
worldwide.




The Last Prisoner Project has one singular mission: to set them free.


TAKE ACTION


HOW WE HELP

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated
to reforming our criminal justice system through progressive drug policy.




Through legal intervention, constituent support, advocacy campaigns, and policy
change we aim to release every last drug war prisoner, as well as to repair the
harms of this discriminatory and counterproductive crusade.


OUR IMPACT

THE PROBLEM


BY THE NUMBERS

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0
Created with Snap
15.7
MILLION


MILLION

Number people arrested for marijuana offenses over the past two decades.

0

$47
BILLION


BILLION

Annual expenditures for the United States "War on Drugs".

0

10.4
BILLION

BILLION


U.S. legal cannabis market size in 2022


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LATEST FROM OUR BLOG

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VIRGINIA GOVERNOR VETOS BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RELEASED ALMOST 400 CANNABIS
PRISONERS

By Adrian Rocha • 28 Mar, 2024
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news Governor Youngkin has vetoed our
cannabis sentence modification bill, SB 696. Under the bill, thousands of
individuals charged for cannabis offenses under outdated laws would have had
their sentences reevaluated in light of legalization. Instead, the Governor’s
veto message not only ignored the intention of this bill but, more importantly,
ignored the plight of thousands of families across the Commonwealth whose lives
have been permanently altered by prohibitionist laws repealed three years ago!
Virginia may have ended cannabis prohibition in 2021, but there remains a
significant injustice for those individuals who continue to be incarcerated for
offenses that are no longer considered illegal. According to the Virginia
Department of Corrections, the average cost of housing an individual in custody
is $33,994. Furthermore, as of 2023, Virginia has generated over $8 million in
tax dollars from medical marijuana according to the US Census Bureau. Thus, SB
696 represents a critical step towards rectifying this injustice by allowing for
the modification of sentences for individuals convicted of cannabis-related
offenses. But the fight is not over. We still have an opportunity to let the
people speak and encourage Virginia lawmakers to override this veto. It is
important that you write to your state representative and senator to support SB
696 by voting to override Gov. Youngkin's veto and ensure justice for Virginians
harmed by cannabis convictions. By joining the effort to override the veto and
make SB 696 law, you have the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and
ensure that hundreds of Virginians with cannabis offenses have their sentences
either reduced or vacated completely. This bill is not just about correcting
legal inconsistencies; it is about improving public safety by providing
individuals with the chance to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to
their communities. Thank you to Marijuana Justice Virginia, Nolef Turns, the
Virginia NAACP, NORML, the Virginia Student Power Network, The New Majority
Virginia, Rise for Youth, and all the members of the CannaJustice Coalition for
all of your hard work and dedication to ensure justice. We must continue until
no one remains in prison for cannabis. Send a letter today!



CANNABIS JUSTICE ADVOCATES TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE FOR CANNABIS
DECRIMINALIZATION

By Stephen Post • 25 Mar, 2024
Date and time: Wednesday, March 27 · 12 - 1pm PDT Location: 1 Frank H. Ogawa
Plaza Oakland, CA 94612 Primary Press Contact: Amber Senter, Executive Director
of Supernova Women amber@supernovawomen.com Supernova Women alongside Last
Prisoner Project , Drug Policy Alliance , and the California cannabis and
California justice communities will hold a press conference at Oakland City Hall
12pm PST, to call on the federal government to decriminalize and deschedule
cannabis. They will be joined by celebrity advocate Rosario Dawson. The call to
action is being held in solidarity with the bi-partisan Unity Day of Action for
comprehensive cannabis legalization occurring in Washington D.C. on April 18th.
At the press conference, Supernova Women, Last Prisoner Project and Drug Policy
Alliance will launch their sign-on letter from California cannabis stakeholders
and justice advocates to President Biden calling for him to “support the
descheduling of marijuana from the CSA and to take action to ensure that the
federal government begins the work that California and now so many other states
have started -- to acknowledge, end and address the harms of criminalization and
to shift the federal government towards a federal framework that better promotes
public health, public safety, equity and the will of the American people.”
California stakeholders who support marijuana federal decriminalization are
invited to sign-on to this petition . “The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services has suggested moving cannabis to Schedule 3, but this half-measure
still perpetuates injustice, especially in Black and Brown communities.” Said
Amber Senter, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Supernova Women. “It's time
for complete descheduling to end the disastrous era of cannabis
criminalization.” Despite 24 states and the District of Columbia having moved
forward with adult-use cannabis laws, Congress has failed to send the President
a comprehensive cannabis bill. The MORE act has passed the house twice led by
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Earl Bluemnaur. The Senate however has
yet to vote on a comprehensive reform package. “Both Congress and the Biden
Administration have an opportunity and responsibility to take immediate and
comprehensive action to end our country’s failed approach to marijuana and right
it wrongs. In order to end federal marijuana criminalization, marijuana must be
descheduled – removed entirely from the Controlled Substances Act,” said Cat
Packer, Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation at the Drug Policy
Alliance. “From the streets of Oakland to the halls of Congress and the front
gates of the White House, the people are demanding the full legalization of
cannabis and the release of all cannabis prisoners.” Said Jason Ortiz, Director
of Strategic Initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project. “This issue is the most
popular and bi-partisan issue in American politics. 70% of Americans support
legalization, and we look forward to reminding the President of this fact, his
campaign promises, and of our power to hold him accountable.” Scheduled speakers
include: Amber Senter, Supernova Women Jason Ortiz, Last Prisoner Project Cat
Packer, Drug Policy Alliance Rosario Dawson Julia Arroyo, Young Women's Freedom
Center Evelyn LaChapelle, The Weed Lady Ross Gordon, National Craft Cannabis
Coalition Jehan Laner, Immigrant Legal Resource Center Etienne Fontain, Veterans
Action Council Ellen Komp, California NORML Chaney Turner, Oakland Cannabis
Regulatory Commission More information about the event can be found at:
https://tinyurl.com/yc27k64t ABOUT SUPERNOVA WOMEN Founded by Black and Brown
women in 2015, Supernova Women is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works to
empower Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the
cannabis and natural plant medicine space through education, advocacy, and
network building. 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. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text
FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more. ABOUT THE DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE The Drug Policy
Alliance is the leading organization in the U.S. working to end the drug war,
repair its harms, and build a non-punitive, equitable, and regulated drug
market. We envision a world that embraces the full humanity of people,
regardless of their relationship to drugs. We advocate that the regulation of
drugs be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In
collaboration with other movements and at every policy level, we change laws,
advance justice, and save lives. Learn more at drugpolicy.org .



RAW ROLLING PAPERS’ DONATION TO LAST PRISONER PROJECT PROVIDES PROFOUND,
REAL-LIFE IMPACTS

By Stephen Post • 21 Mar, 2024
The company’s $100,000 donation to Last Prisoner Project in December of last
year has already made big impacts to those most affected by the War on Drugs.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 26, 2024) – HBI International, established independent
and international producers of the RAW® brand of plant-based rolling papers and
innovative smoking accessories, is honored to share that the company’s 2023
donation to Last Prisoner Project, is seeing profound impacts on individuals who
have recently been released from incarceration on cannabis-related charges. The
company donated $100,000 to Last Prisoner Project, an organization that aims to
free everyone incarcerated for cannabis charges through public education and
advocacy, in December, 2023. Half of the funds were allocated to provide
re-entry support for those recently released from prison on cannabis-related
charges. The other half of the donation is allocated toward funding programs to
assist those who were incarcerated under non-violent, cannabis-related crimes.
“While our customers are rolling up with our papers, thousands of people remain
wrongfully jailed for nonviolent cannabis offenses,” said Josh Kesselman,
founder and CEO of the company behind RAW. “We are proud to be part of the
solution through our donations to Last Prisoner Project, an organization that is
truly putting in the work to reform our criminal justice system.” The Last
Prisoner Project recently shared the real-life stories of constituents working
to rebuild their lives who have been impacted by RAW’s donation. The affected
individuals include Kyle Page, who spent six years incarcerated for a
non-violent cannabis offense, and Stephanie Shepard, who was sentenced to ten
years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a first-time, non-violent cannabis
offense. Shepard now serves as the Last Prisoner Project’s director of advocacy
and chairwoman on the board of directors. “We are grateful for the generous
donation from Josh Kesselman and the team at RAW, which has helped us facilitate
the liberation of non-violent cannabis offenders, as well as fund our push for
systemic change,” said Mary Bailey, managing director at Last Prisoner Project.
“In just a few short months, RAW’s donation has provided significant impacts to
our organization.” Officially launched in 2005, following years of research and
development, RAW Rolling Papers has garnered a reputation for excellence. The
minimalist branding, plant-based materials, and smooth smoking experience have
elevated RAW into an iconic brand recognized around the world. RAW produces a
large portfolio of rolling papers, cones, tips, apparel, and other smoking gear.
The Last Prisoner Project was founded in 2019 with a mission to reform America’s
policy of cannabis prohibition and free those incarcerated due to the impacts of
the War on Drugs. The organization works toward policy changes, provides
re-entry support to newly released individuals, and engages in direct advocacy
for criminal justice reform. ### About RAW Rolling Papers Headquartered in
Phoenix, Arizona and launched in 2005 by Josh Kesselman, RAW is an independent,
global brand producing plant-based rolling papers and other smoking accessories.
Their unbleached, slow-burning papers are the preferred product for millions of
smokers. The company is committed to sustainability and social good and, through
its RAW Giving initiative, has provided millions of dollars in direct cash
contributions for many charities, including those that work to provide access to
clean water and rescue homeless pets. For more information, visit:
rawthentic.com . 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. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text
FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more. Media Contact: Sadie Thompson Proven Media
602-527-0794 sadie@provenmedia.com



LAST PRISONER PROJECT TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF CONNECTICUT SB 444 FOR JUSTICE IN
CANNABIS RESENTENCING

By Sarah Gersten • 20 Mar, 2024
Testimony of Sarah Gersten Executive Director and General Counsel Last Prisoner
Project Before the Connecticut Joint Committee on Judiciary in SUPPORT of SB 444
March 20, 2024 Members of the Judiciary Committee, Thank you for the opportunity
to testify in support of SB 444, and, more importantly, for raising this
critical bill to further a just approach to cannabis in Connecticut. My name is
Sarah Gersten, and I am the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Last
Prisoner Project, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on the
intersection of cannabis and criminal justice reform. I am also a resident of
West Hartford. Through policy campaigns, direct intervention, and public
advocacy, LPP works to redress the past and continuing harms of unjust cannabis
laws. We are committed to offering our technical expertise to ensure that
Connecticut fully redresses the harms of cannabis prohibition in the wake of
legalization. This Committee passed a similar measure last session, but
unfortunately, that bill did not become law. Nevertheless, its introduction
revealed that there were 4,248 pending cases for an offense invalidated by the
legalization of cannabis. Thanks to the leadership of Chief State Attorney
Patrick Griffin and the diligence of each State's Attorney's Office across
Connecticut, 1,562 cases for outdated charges were dismissed. This session, we
owe it to families across the state to finish the job by creating a sentencing
modification procedure that allows individuals charged under outdated laws to
have their sentence reevaluated in light of legalization. According to data
obtained from the Department of Correction just this month, there are 476
individuals currently serving a sentence for an offense that would be eligible
for reconsideration; 682 individuals with eligible co-mingled offenses who have
been charged and sentenced; and 107 individuals charged and awaiting sentencing
for an eligible offense. Let that sink in: there are more than 1,200 people who
continue to bear the consequences, some even currently incarcerated, for the
same activities we now tax, regulate, and make a profit off of. Here in
Connecticut, the legal market brought in over $2 million just in the first week
of sales, and the state is poised to earn over one billion dollars in tax
revenue over the next five years. Requiring courts to reconsider
cannabis-related sentences since prohibition’s repeal is a critical piece of
legalizing the right way, with accountability to the origins of prohibition. It
is a data-driven policy supported by a wide body of research showing that
reconsidering outdated sentences promotes public safety. Providing a pathway to
relief for individuals whose continued incarceration is no longer in the
interests of justice ensures limited public safety resources like prosecution,
courts, and corrections are prioritized for actual risks to the community. The
practice of continuing to imprison individuals involved with cannabis activity
undermines the important goals of our justice system–at the taxpayer’s expense.
Directing these scarce resources at unnecessary incarceration has a poor return
on investment. Connecticut has one of the highest costs of incarceration in the
country. According to a recent OLR Report , for FY 2021, the average annual cost
of housing an individual in CT DOC custody was $249 per day, or $90,885 a year.
Our state should not continue footing the bill for unjust penalties that are out
of touch with the perspectives of its residents and that do not benefit the
state’s interests. The provisions of SB 444 are based on best practices other
states have adopted to address sentences handed down during cannabis
prohibition. This includes states like Virginia, where a similar
cannabis-centric sentence modification bill passed the General Assembly and is
currently sitting on the Governor’s desk. Rather than relying on each individual
to self-identify, thereby clogging the courts with petitions, SB 444 rightly
provides a straightforward court-initiated process for resentencing hearings
that maximizes efficiency. If implemented, individuals in diversionary programs
can have their sentences vacated and charges dismissed. Those currently serving
a period of conditional discharge or probation may have their supervision
lifted. Finally, incarcerated individuals would be eligible to have their
sentences reduced, modified to conditional discharge, or released home. As part
of our ongoing advocacy on behalf of this bill, we have spoken to various state
agencies, including the Judicial Branch, who recommended a few procedural
amendments to ensure the implementation of this bill is as smooth as possible.
These include provisions such as providing an eligibility look-back period that
does not extend further back than January 1, 2000, the earliest year for which
there are digital records, and including language to ensure cases compiled by
the Judicial Branch are reviewed and validated by the Department of Correction.
We recommend the bill be amended to reflect these provisions and stand ready to
provide our technical assistance to ensure the bill incorporates these
amendments with fidelity. We urge the Connecticut legislature to pass SB 444,
and we look forward to continuing to support the legislature in ensuring that no
one continues to suffer the most harmful consequence of cannabis prohibition in
Connecticut. Watch the full hearing here.


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The Last Prisoner Project. All rights reserved.

Last Prisoner Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with EIN
83-4502829. Mailing address: 1312 17th St #640 Denver, CO 80202. Our governing
documents and conflicts of interest policy can be found here. Our Privacy Policy
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