Diverse marijuana reform activists held an event on the steps of the White House in Washington, D.C. Thursday as one of their latest attempts to get President Donald Trump’s attention to release those still behind bars over cannabis.
The Last Prisoner Project organized the event. Multiple speakers shared their stories of their experiences in the criminal justice system, and spoke about their advocacy efforts. They argued to the Administration that it is time to end marijuana prohibition.
The event was part of the “Cannabis Week of Action”, led by LPP, which also included congressional legislators who spoke about their efforts to promote reform on Capitol Hill.
Jason Ortiz is the director of strategic initiatives for LPP. He told MEDCAN24 that he would continue his fight, no matter what party was in power. The time of panels and PowerPoints has long passed. Our coalition will take the fight to decision-makers to create a coalition that can actually pass meaningful policies.
He said, “Our aim was to convince legislators of both parties to support the 70% of Americans that want to legalize marijuana fully.” Our combined efforts allowed us to contact every member of Congress. That’s how we will win. It was the next stage in our campaign of persuading this Congress. We invite all freedom-loving Americans to march with us to accomplish the task and bring back our cannabis prisoner.
At Thursday’s event, Deshaun Durham, a constituent of LPP who received a gubernatorial pardon for a cannabis-related conviction in Kansas, directed a message to Trump: “I know you’re in there. If you can hear us, let our people home.”
“There are thousands of people in America who wait to be reunited with their families. He said that there are mothers waiting to see their sons again. “There’s so many people in the industry profiting, legally, off of the plant—so all I’m asking is, Trump, let our people home. Let’s go. Let’s get it done.”
Durham stated, “You are over there trying to save money for America. But one way is by sending all of our people back home.” What would that legal market generate for America?” It would be a huge revenue. Trump, I don’t think that you are worried about the right thing. We need to send our troops home.
Jeremy Grove (another LPP member who spent four-years in federal prison for a conviction of cannabis) said he wished to “focus” on those still behind bars, mentioning people like Edwin Rubis or Pedro Moreno, who currently serve decades long sentences because they were convicted of marijuana.
It is the truth that [former President Joe Biden] “He made a pledge to release marijuana prisoners and didn’t keep it,” said he. Donald Trump has a great opportunity to act right now. He has a great opportunity to alter history. “It’s our chance to return home.”
Adam Rosenberg is the chairman of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s board of directors. He spoke about “fighting this miracle plant” and his past, citing the many stories of patients who have had transformative experiences using cannabis to help them with their medical conditions.
The short human lifespan has led us to forget that water is one of our most important natural resources. Education, he believes, is the best way for us to bring about change.
Trump will face pressures from many directions in order to deliver on his campaign promises, and also expand the clemency for cannabis that was achieved by both Biden’s administration as well under Trump’s first presidency. In many cases, those directly affected by criminalization are the ones leading the way.
Last month, for example, an activist who received a pardon for a marijuana-related conviction during Trump’s first term paid a visit to the White House, discussing future clemency options with the recently appointed “pardon czar.”
Former marijuana prisoner who were granted clemency by Trump in his first term held a different event last month outside the White House, thanking him for the relief he gave them and urging the new administration grant similar help to other prisoners still behind bars.
Trump is yet to speak out on marijuana legalization, even though he endorsed it on his campaign trail. Trump’s officials within his administration also have mixed records which creates some uncertainty.
Recent comments by a U.S. lawyer with the Justice Department have sent mixed signals regarding his approach in prosecuting licensed marijuana businesses for alleged violations. On the one hand, the prohibition is to be “heeded,” while on the other, cannabis operators that aren’t following local laws face the greatest risk.
Trump’s choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration said that examining a federally reschedule of marijuana will “be one of my top priorities” if he was confirmed in the role.
As far as the marijuana rescheduling process is concerned, DEA recently notified an agency judge that the proceedings are still on hold—with no future actions currently scheduled as the matter sits before the acting administrator, Derek Maltz, who has called cannabis a “gateway drug” and linked its use to psychosis.
Separately, a marijuana industry-backed political action committee (PAC) has also released a series of ads over recent weeks that have attacked Biden’s cannabis policy record as well as the nation of Canada, promoting sometimes misleading claims about the last administration while making the case that Trump can deliver on reform.
Its latest ad accused former President Joe Biden and his DEA of waging a “deep state war” against medical cannabis patients—but without mentioning that the former president himself initiated the rescheduling process that marijuana companies want to see completed under Trump.
Trump U.S. attorney who threatened Licensed D.C. Marijuana Dispensary sends mixed signals about respecting local laws
Jason Ortiz/LPP.