last prisoner project finds early success

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 incarcerated in America on cannabis charges. Green State’s wide-ranging discussion with Gersten—who lives in Connecticut— touched on legislative advocacy, social justice and clemency efforts, among other related subjects. Michigan Green State launched last February and as “we carve out our role in the cannabis industry Last Prisoner Project kept coming up,” said Ed Fritz, the magazine’s founder. “We thought it was important to reach out to them to learn more about the organization, particularly its activities in Michigan and what, if any role, we can play.” “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 parole board trying to identify people for potential release. This has been expedited by COVID, which has devastated Michigan prisons. The parole board is really trying to identify early release candidates.” Despite marijuana being legal for adult use, “We have 100 constituents still incarcerated across the State of Michigan for marijuana offenses,” Gersten said. “Our coalition, in general, is taking a grassroots approach to work with local communities across the state. We favor clemency over parole because if you’re out on parole, you’re still truly not free.” The coalition Gersten alludes to is a partnership between Last Prisoner Project and Michigan-based marijuana prisoner advocacy groups such as the Michigan Cannabis Freedom Coalition, Force Detroit, Cannabis Caucus of the Democratic Party, Clean Smoke Initiative, and the Redemption Foundation, among others. “We aim to work directly with Gov. Whitmer’s office to streamline and expedite the process of commutation for people incarcerated on non-violent marijuana offenses,” she noted. Last Prisoner’s core mission centers on prisoner release, record clearing, and reentry programming that provides resources (including financial help) and education in an effort to reduce recidivism rates. The organization doesn’t stop at getting prisoners paroled or granted clemency. Once out, without financial resources and other assistance in place, ex-prisoners are likely to fail. “We have a huge support system in place for 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, transportation and clothing.” Last Prisoner Project receives 60% of its funding from individual donors and the general population. The rest comes from the cannabis industry, many of whom are doing quite well, thank you. Said Gersten, “We really feel that anyone or any company that is now profiting off the sale of legal marijuana has a moral obligation to give back to the kinds of initiatives we’re pursuing. We’re heartened by all the support, particularly from a lot of the operators in Michigan. It’s a really good signal that so many Americans really believe in the work we’re doing and believe in reforming

12 | www.MIGREENSTATE.com

Sara Gersten

fall 2021| MIGreenState

these laws.” Gersten encourages marijuana advocates to lend a hand. Apart from donations, one of the best ways members of the general public can help is through something that has largely become obsolete in the digital age: letter writing. Last Prisoners Project’s website provides guidance on what to write and shares information on prisoners’ stories. Anybody who has done time or is doing time will attest to the power of the pen. “Our letter writing program is one of the best ways to get involved,” she said. “We know from our constituents that this is monumental. It makes such a huge difference in their lives to know that people care, that people are fighting for their freedom. They aren’t forgotten. We put a face on each individual case.” One of Last Prisoner Project’s most successful clemency campaigns to date occurred right here in Michigan. It involved the case of Flint’s Michael Thompson, who served 24 years behind bars stemming from the sale of three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant. DeAngelo and other activists had lobbied for Thompson’s release for years. It finally happened earlier this year when, in an unusual move for a first-term governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer granted him clemency. Thompson was the longest-serving marijuana prisoner in the state. His release was a shining moment for Last Prisoner Project and everyone else along the way that lobbied lawmakers, wrote letters, garnered media attention and personalized Thompson’s plight. “It was enlightening for people to learn about Mr. Thompson, to learn about his family, his background and the incredible injustice he suffered,” Gersten said. “He is such an incredible advocate and warm person. His case represented a huge opportunity for us to engage the public in our fight.” The organization also pushed hard for the release of another Michigan cannabis prisoner, Jason Szymanski, who served three years in a Jackson prison for a cannabis-related crime that is no longer illegal in the state. Szymanski, according to Last Prisoner Project, was imprisoned for using medical marijuana while on parole to deal with serious medical issues. A subsequent court ruling determined that use of cannabis recommended by a physician is not cause to violate a person’s parole status. “The political climate is definitely changing,” Gersten said. “It’s a trend we’re seeing across the country. Even in very red states, you’re starting to see an understanding that criminalizing marijuana is not effective public health or public safety policy. There is a sea of change happening in Michigan especially from progressive prosecutors—which is huge. We are seeing the mass incarceration of people for simple marijuana possession ending. Citizens here and across the country are calling for criminal justice reform and we’re seeing that happen.” To find out more about Last Prisoner Project, please visit its website at: www.lastprisonerproject.org

Issue 4 | fall 2021

Jason Szymanski was freed on parole after serving 3 years in prison for cannabis after a push by Last Prisoner Project.