Imagine sitting in a call for years, decades, or even 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 over 40,000 cannabis prisoners face today in the United States alone, while countless others languish in jails and prisons worldwide. The Last Prisoner Project is a non-profit coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives, and artists dedicated to bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry.
We can’t forget the Drug War POWs who are still in jail, even while cannabis is being legalized. At Farmer and the Felon, we are dedicated to supporting the efforts of Last Prisoner Project, an organization demanding that people convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related crimes go free.
Right now, a massive effort is being coordinated to free Michael Thompson, who has been in prison in Michigan for 25 years. Convicted in 1996 of three counts of selling cannabis and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm as a felony offender, Thompson was sentenced to 40 - 60 years in prison. For the crime of selling three pounds of weed to an informant, Thompson is now in danger of contracting COVID-19 in prison.
After the weed set-up, Thompson’s house was searched, leading to gun charges for a firearm belonging to his wife, and an antique pistol. Thompson is a nonviolent offender caught up in the prison-industrial complex that warehouses Black men for profit.
Thompson was denied parole in 2018—the same year that Michigan voters approved legalizing cannabis. Currently in his 60s, and recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Thompson has served 25 years—way too long. He needs to be released immediately.
Last Prisoner Project is asking people to call Michigan Governor Whitmer’s office at (517) 373-3400 to voice support for Michael Thompson’s request for clemency. Help Michael rejoin his family and enjoy freedom for the rest of his life.
