With rescheduling and federal reform on the horizon, new state recreational markets launching on a regular basis, and the legal industry continuing its growth, it’s easy to forget that there are still tens of thousands of Americans incarcerated for cannabis use, and tens of thousands more struggling with the implications of having an offense on their record.
Countless people concentrated in Black and brown communities experienced injustice because of decades of failed cannabis policy. Recent data underscores the persistent racial disparities in marijuana-related arrests. A 2020 analysis by the American Civil Liberties Union concluded that Black individuals are 3.64 times more likely than white individuals to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates. This systemic inequality has led to over-policing in communities of color, resulting in long-term socioeconomic consequences. The harm cannot be erased, but we can work to support the victims of these failed policies. As advocates and participants in the legal industry, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the realities of the past and work to release those behind bars for non-violent cannabis offenses.
Collaborative Efforts for Justice and Reform
This is why over the past two years, Dutchie and Last Prisoner Project have teamed up to coordinate donations from dispensary partners and cannabis consumers, raising $1 million in contributions that were then matched by Dutchie to reach a goal of $2 million in total. This was achieved by putting a call to action across our combined channels, including calls to action on all partner dispensary receipts, encouraging retail partners to donate through the partnership, links on LPP emails, and even matching donations for a charity golf event.
I have seen the support from Dutchie allow Last Prisoner Project to provide the type of assistance that I did not have while serving a 10-year sentence for a first-time, victimless cannabis charge. Their support of our incarcerated cannabis community highlights a commitment to social justice, reuniting families, and paving the way to an end of outdated laws. The funds raised, and the donations matched through this network are contributing to pro-bono legal representation through Last Prisoner Project’s Cannabis Justice Initiative with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, sparing constituents more than 100 years of prison time, including four individuals serving life sentences, thus far.
The donations also supported the creation of the State of Cannabis Justice Report, which tracks the progress individual states need to make in repairing the harm done by prohibition and the War on Drugs, along with the Pardons to Progress and Pen to Right History campaigns, which have organized the sending of over 11,000 letters to governors and the president urging them to take greater clemency action.
This partnership’s ongoing success represents a small microcosm of the legal industry’s power to redress the damage done by prohibition. Efforts like the expungement of criminal records, re-entry support, criminal justice policy reform, industry event coordination, and the creation of technological avenues to exponentially increase charitable contributions are not possible unless equity and justice are considered a pillar of propelling the legal industry forward.
And this can come in many forms. It is understandable that not every cannabis company has the means to make large donations or match mass fundraising efforts, but social equity efforts do not start and end with monetary donations. Adding a donation option or call to action to your receipts, your marketing materials, or social media presence can go a long way.
One other way to further support those impacted by prohibition is by investing time, energy, and effort into the communities they come from. States like California and Illinois have initiated expungement clinics and provided resources to support individuals with prior convictions, aiming to facilitate their entry into the legal market. There is plenty of opportunity to organize expungement clinics, job fairs, food drives, and educational events in the neighborhoods and amongst the populations most disenfranchised by the War on Drugs. Spreading advocacy and awareness can also go a long way. Be vocal about justice-centered cannabis policy, work with elected officials who back these changes, and collaborate with nonprofits and industry groups who support social equity initiatives.
Integrating Social Equity into Business Practices
That important work is not only seen by customers, but it is celebrated by the community. It creates opportunities to bring everyone together and honor previously incarcerated constituents and cannabis justice advocates like we did at the Journey to Justice Gala.
If you or your company is now benefiting from the opportunities created by legalization, acknowledging and addressing the harm done by prohibition (or supporting organizations that do) should be a part of your business plan. Cannabis justice needs to be at the core of the legal industry for the impact and potential of cannabis legalization to be truly and righteously achieved. If thousands of people continue to suffer under the circumstances created by criminalization while legal businesses simultaneously make profits, the legitimacy of this industry and the foundations it was built on will forever be in question.
We believe in the power the industry has to continue to forge positive change, as we’ve seen it firsthand with this partnership, and encourage all members of the industry to identify and pursue the ways in which they’d like to approach social equity and reform within their businesses.
