Last Prisoner Project Finds Early Success in Michigan JON BECKER FOR MICHIGAN GREEN STATE A national nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform has extended its considerable clout to Michigan. Last Prisoner Project, a Colorado-based organization with employees across the country, is determined to see that all Michigan prisoners convicted of non-violent marijuana-related crimes are released. It accomplishes this challenge here and elsewhere through its successful cannabis clemency programs, both on federal and state levels. Michigan Green State had the privilege of recently meeting with one of Last Prisoner Projects’ key figures, Sarah Gersten, the organization’s executive director and general counsel. In this role Gersten oversees every aspect of an operation that owes its origin to Steve DeAngelo, a globally-recognized American drug policy reform activist, and music industry veteran Dean Raise. The duo founded Last Prisoner Project in 2019 and, as DeAngelo said in his book, “The Cannabis Manifesto,” the organization and its impressive list of staffers and supporters won’t rest until they help free the more than 40,000 people it says is currently incarparole board trying to identify people for cerated in America on cannabis charges. potential release. This has been expedited Green State’s wide-ranging discussion by COVID, which has devastated Michigan with Gersten—who lives in Connecticut— prisons. The parole board is really trying to touched on legislative advocacy, social identify early release candidates.” justice and clemency efforts, among other Despite marijuana being legal for adult use, related subjects. Michigan Green State “We have 100 constituents still incarcerated launched last February and as “we carve across the State of Michigan for marijuana out our role in the cannabis industry Last offenses,” Gersten said. “Our coalition, in genPrisoner Project kept coming up,” said Ed Fritz, the magazine’s founder. “We thought it eral, is taking a grassroots approach to work was important to reach out to them to learn with local communities across the state. We more about the organization, particularly its favor clemency over parole because if you’re out on parole, you’re still truly not free.” activities in Michigan and what, if any role, we can play.” The coalition Gersten alludes to is a “A big piece of what we’re working on is our clemency program in Michigan,” Gersten said. “We have so much work to do. It’s a key priority. What we’re seeing in Michigan is the
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partnership between Last Prisoner Project and Michigan-based marijuana prisoner advocacy groups such as the Michigan Cannabis Freedom Coalition, Force Detroit,
Sara Gersten
people getting out,” Gersten, a co-founder of Michigan Cannabis Freedom Coalition, said. “We have local re-entry groups on the ground ready to provide housing, transpor“We aim to work directly with Gov. Whitmer’s tation and clothing.” office to streamline and expedite the proLast Prisoner Project receives 60% of its cess of commutation for people incarceratfunding from individual donors and the ed on non-violent marijuana offenses,” she general population. The rest comes from the noted. cannabis industry, many of whom are doing quite well, thank you. Last Prisoner’s core mission centers on prisoner release, record clearing, and reentry Said Gersten, “We really feel that anyone or programming that provides resources any company that is now profiting off the (including financial help) and education sale of legal marijuana has a moral obligain an effort to reduce recidivism rates. The tion to give back to the kinds of initiatives organization doesn’t stop at getting prisonwe’re pursuing. We’re heartened by all the ers paroled or granted clemency. Once out, support, particularly from a lot of the opwithout financial resources and other assiserators in Michigan. It’s a really good signal tance in place, ex-prisoners are likely to fail. that so many Americans really believe in the Cannabis Caucus of the Democratic Party, Clean Smoke Initiative, and the Redemption Foundation, among others.
“We have a huge support system in place for
work we’re doing and believe in reforming
fall 2021| MIGreenState
