Freedom for the Forgotten: How the Last Prisoner Project Is Fighting for Cannabis Justice

The Hidden Cost of Legal Cannabis

It’s easy to celebrate how far cannabis has come – from prohibition to dispensaries on every corner, from stigma to mainstream acceptance.

But behind the growing legal market lies a painful truth: tens of thousands of people are still sitting in prison for cannabis-related offenses, even as others profit from the same plant.

This is the reality that The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is determined to change. Founded in 2019 by a group of cannabis industry leaders and activists, LPP’s mission is simple but powerful:

No one should remain incarcerated for a plant that is now legal.

Across America, individuals – often from marginalized communities – remain locked up for nonviolent cannabis crimes that no longer exist in many states. Meanwhile, the legal cannabis industry is projected to surpass $35 billion in annual sales by 2025. That stark contrast exposes the lingering injustice of America’s War on Drugs.

At StandardCBD, we believe true wellness extends beyond physical health – it includes fairness, empathy, and second chances. We were founded in Humboldt County – the heart of cannabis culture. We stand for education, advocacy, and fairness. Our goal is to help build a cannabis industry that’s just, transparent, and compassionate.

Organizations like the Last Prisoner Project remind us that legalization alone isn’t enough. Real progress means repairing the harm done to those unfairly punished under outdated laws.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at the Last Prisoner Project.

We’ll explore who they are, what they do.
And we’ll discover how their work is changing lives – one person, one pardon, and one expungement at a time.

Who Is the Last Prisoner Project?

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a nonprofit founded in 2019. It works to free people jailed for non-violent cannabis offenses. These are individuals serving time for actions now legal in many U.S. states.

The Mission: “No One Left Behind”

Cannabis industry pioneers and activists – including Steve DeAngelo, Mary Bailey, and Dean Raise – created the Last Prisoner Project with one simple mission:

“No one should remain incarcerated for a plant that has become legal and profitable.”

Since legalization began spreading across the U.S., the founders recognized a painful irony – while new cannabis companies flourished, thousands of people remained behind bars for the same plant. LPP was born to change that reality through advocacy, legal support, and awareness.

Their Three Pillars of Action

1. Release – Working with attorneys and lawmakers to free people currently imprisoned for cannabis-related crimes.
2. Record Clearing – Helping individuals expunge cannabis convictions so they can rebuild their lives without the stigma of a criminal record.
3. Reentry – Providing financial, educational, and community support for those newly released, helping them transition back into society.

Together, these pillars form a complete pathway from incarceration to freedom and reintegration – the first of its kind in the cannabis space.

Real-World Impact

Since 2019, LPP has led many successful clemency campaigns. They helped free Corvain Cooper, once sentenced to life for a non-violent cannabis offense. They also supported Michael Thompson, who spent 25 years in prison before finally regaining his freedom.

Every success story is a reminder that legalization isn’t truly just until everyone affected by outdated cannabis laws is free.

LPP partners with advocacy groups, policy leaders, and cannabis brands to support legal defense and fair policy reform. Many cannabis companies – from small farms to national brands – now donate part of their profits or run campaigns to help this mission.

At StandardCBD, we stand alongside organizations like the Last Prisoner Project in believing that wellness must include justice and restoration. A thriving cannabis industry should also heal the communities harmed by prohibition.

Why This Matters for Consumers

When you choose to buy from transparent, compliant, and ethically minded brands, you’re not just supporting better health – you’re helping shape a fairer future for cannabis.

If you’d like to learn more about the Last Prisoner Project or get involved, visit their official site at lastprisonerproject.org.

The Human Side of Cannabis Injustice

Behind every statistic about cannabis incarceration is a real person – a mother, father, son, or friend – whose life was derailed by outdated laws.

While many Americans today enjoy the benefits of legal cannabis and CBD for wellness, thousands remain imprisoned for the same plant, often serving decades-long sentences for nonviolent offenses.

Real Lives, Real Impact

Take Corvain Cooper, for example. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a nonviolent cannabis offense. Decades later, after a long public campaign and support from the Last Prisoner Project, he was finally granted clemency. Or Michael Thompson, who spent 25 years behind bars for selling cannabis in Michigan – even after the state legalized marijuana.

These stories highlight the deep unfairness of cannabis criminalization – and the healing work that organizations like the Last Prisoner Project are doing every day. Their advocacy doesn’t just free people from prison; it restores hope, reunites families, and repairs trust in communities that have carried the weight of prohibition for far too long.

Wellness Beyond Walls: Why Healing Matters

At StandardCBD, we believe wellness is about more than feeling good – it’s about restoring balance and fairness. That same principle applies to how we view cannabis reform.

While the Last Prisoner Project works to bring freedom to those unjustly imprisoned, we focus on promoting natural wellness and healing for everyone through high-quality, compliant hemp products. Whether it’s:

• Ultra Potent 350mg CBD Capsules to support calm, daily balance, and emotional stability, or
• Pain Cream with Delta-8 + CBD to help ease tension and soreness after long days –

every product we create reflects the same values of compassion, integrity, and care that drive advocacy groups like LPP.

The Link Between Justice and Wellness

CBD’s power lies in its ability to help people feel balanced – physically, mentally, and emotionally. In a way, the work of the Last Prisoner Project mirrors that same goal on a societal level: helping restore balance to a system that’s been out of alignment for decades.

Legalization should mean freedom for all – not just opportunity for some. When you support brands that stand for transparency and equity, like StandardCBD, you’re contributing to a movement that values both healing and humanity.

Did You Know?

• Over 40,000 people in the U.S. are still imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis-related crimes.
• Cannabis arrests still outnumber arrests for all violent crimes combined in some states.
• People of color are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white individuals, despite equal usage rates.

By supporting organizations like The Last Prisoner Project and choosing ethical, lab-tested CBD products, you help drive a more responsible, compassionate future for the cannabis industry.

A Nation in Transition – Legalization vs. Incarceration

As of 2025, 24 U.S. states have legalized recreational cannabis and more than 40 allow medical use – yet tens of thousands of Americans remain behind bars for the same plant that’s now generating billions in tax revenue.

This contradiction sits at the heart of the cannabis justice movement. Legalization is spreading rapidly, but the benefits of reform have not been shared equally.

The Legalization Paradox

In states like California, Colorado, and Illinois, legal cannabis businesses operate freely, while people in neighboring states still serve decades-long sentences for simple possession.
According to the ACLU, cannabis-related arrests still account for over 43% of all drug arrests nationwide – and nearly 80% of those arrests are for possession only.

The Last Prisoner Project calls this “the unfinished business of legalization.” Their work highlights that reform isn’t complete until every person unfairly imprisoned under outdated cannabis laws is free, their records are cleared, and they have the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Social Equity and the Cannabis Industry

The future of cannabis isn’t just about business – it’s about responsibility. Brands, advocates, and consumers all have a role to play in building a fair, inclusive industry.

At StandardCBD, we take that responsibility seriously. Our commitment to compliance under the 2018 Farm Bill, transparency through third-party lab testing, and ethical sourcing all reflect our belief that wellness should be accessible, trustworthy, and inclusive.

By choosing lab-tested hemp products like our Ultra Potent 350mg CBD Capsules or Pain Cream with Delta-8 + CBD, consumers support a vision of cannabis that heals – not harms.

These products are more than wellness tools; they’re part of a broader shift toward responsible, ethical cannabis commerce – one that honors the plant’s potential while respecting those who paid the highest price for its prohibition.

Federal Reform on the Horizon

Momentum for change is building at the federal level. Policymakers from both parties have introduced legislation aimed at:

• Expunging nonviolent cannabis convictions
• Reinvesting cannabis tax revenue into impacted communities
• Protecting legal cannabis businesses from federal interference

The MORE Act and SAFE Banking Act continue to spark debate, and while full federal legalization remains uncertain, the direction is clear – cannabis justice is now a mainstream issue.

Until national reform arrives, nonprofits like the Last Prisoner Project continue to bridge the gap between policy and people, fighting case by case to restore justice.

A Shift Toward Compassion and Responsibility

The cannabis industry’s evolution mirrors a deeper societal shift – from punishment to understanding, from stigma to healing.

At StandardCBD, we believe the same principles that guide personal wellness – balance, integrity, and compassion – should also guide the cannabis movement as a whole.
Every purchase of a lab-tested, compliant CBD product helps fuel a responsible, transparent market – one that reflects the future we want to see: a future where wellness, freedom, and fairness coexist.

Practice Conscious Consumption

Supporting cannabis justice doesn’t stop with signing petitions or donating – it also shows up in how you shop and what brands you support.

Every purchase has power. When you choose transparent, compliant, and community-minded CBD companies, you’re investing in a cannabis industry that values wellness, fairness, and integrity.

The cannabis marketplace has exploded since legalization, but not all brands are created equal. Some still cut corners with untested ingredients or misleading potency labels, while others – like StandardCBD – are setting the example for what ethical, modern hemp wellness should look like.

How to Be a Conscious Cannabis Consumer

Before purchasing any CBD or hemp product, ask yourself:

1. Is this brand transparent about sourcing and testing?
   Check whether they publish lab results for each product. At StandardCBD, every batch is third-party tested for potency, purity, and compliance – ensuring you always get what’s promised on the label.
2. Does it comply with the 2018 Farm Bill?
   The best CBD products are 100% Farm Bill-compliant, meaning they contain less than 0.3% Δ9-THC and are legal in all 50 states. All products at StandardCBD.com meet these federal standards for safety and legality.
3. Does this brand give back or advocate for change?
   Conscious consumption isn’t just about personal health – it’s about supporting brands that stand for justice. StandardCBD proudly amplifies organizations like the Last Prisoner Project and supports cannabis education, advocacy, and community wellness.

Why Conscious Shopping Matters

When you choose ethically made, lab-tested CBD products, you’re helping shape a responsible future for the cannabis industry – one built on trust and accountability.

The same care you show for your body can extend to your purchases. By aligning your values with your shopping habits, you become part of a movement that champions not just wellness, but fairness and freedom.

The StandardCBD Difference

Choosing StandardCBD means choosing a brand that:

• Prioritizes purity and potency in every product
• Follows full Farm Bill and GMP manufacturing compliance
• Publishes transparent lab results for every batch
• Advocates for reform and cannabis justice through education
• Honors its Humboldt County heritage of craftsmanship and care

By shopping consciously, you’re not just enhancing your health – you’re helping redefine what it means to be part of a responsible, ethical cannabis movement.

Join the Movement

Visit StandardCBD.com to explore our full line of lab-tested CBD products, learn more about our mission, or read our blog for educational resources on cannabis, wellness, and social change.

Together, we can make legalization mean freedom – and wellness – for all.

Closing Thoughts – Justice Is Part of Wellness

The story of cannabis is evolving – from prohibition to profit, from punishment to healing. But the truth is clear: legalization means nothing without liberation.

The Last Prisoner Project is shining a light on the people still suffering in the shadows of progress. Their mission reminds us that cannabis reform is still unfinished. No one should remain in prison for a plant. Every record must be cleared.
And every person deserves support to rebuild their life.

At the same time, consumers and companies alike have the power to lead by example – by promoting transparency, fairness, and integrity in the products we make and the purchases we choose.

Healing, Freedom, and the Future of Cannabis

At StandardCBD, we believe that true wellness isn’t just about easing pain or finding calm – it’s about creating balance at every level.

That means producing products that are pure, compliant, and lab-tested – but it also means standing up for justice, sustainability, and community.

We’re proud to join voices with advocates like the Last Prisoner Project who are fighting for fairness in the cannabis space. Together, we share a vision of a future where cannabis heals not just individuals, but entire communities.

How You Can Make a Difference

You can be part of this movement today by:

• Supporting the Last Prisoner Project through donations, sharing their message, or volunteering.
• Choosing ethical, transparent CBD brands that uphold integrity and compliance – like StandardCBD.
• Educating others about cannabis justice, safe CBD use, and the importance of conscious consumption.

When you shop with intention, you create real change. You help build a cannabis industry rooted in compassion and healing – just like the plant itself.

Shop with Purpose – Wellness You Can Feel Good About

At StandardCBD, we’re redefining wellness with simple, honest, and effective hemp products. All products made in the spirit of love, balance, and responsibility.

Try some of our most trusted favorites:

• 💊 Ultra Potent 350mg CBD Capsules – Consistent daily support for calm, focus, and mental clarity.
• 🧴 Pain Cream with Delta-8 + CBD – Fast-acting topical relief for sore joints, muscles, and everyday discomfort.
• 🐾 Full-Spectrum Pet CBD Oil – Gentle support for stress and mobility in your four-legged family members.

Every product is Farm Bill-compliant, third-party lab tested, and crafted in Humboldt County, California – the birthplace of cannabis culture and integrity. You can view all lab results anytime to see exactly what’s inside.

Be the Change. Feel the Balance.

We believe justice and wellness go hand-in-hand. By supporting ethical CBD brands and advocacy efforts like the Last Prisoner Project, you’re helping ensure that cannabis doesn’t just heal – it liberates.

👉 Explore the full collection at StandardCBD Shop
👉 Read more about cannabis advocacy and wellness on our StandardCBD Blog
👉 Join us in creating a future where freedom, fairness, and wellness are finally aligned.

Because healing the body is only part of the journey – the rest is healing the system. 🌿

Standing for Fairness and Transparency

LPP’s mission inspires us to lead with the same values – fairness, transparency, and compassion.

Real Reviews, Real Results

Every product we create is backed by real results and real people. Don’t just take our word for it – check out our customer reviews. These are 100% genuine stories from people who’ve experienced the difference themselves.

Building Trust Through Action

Your trust means everything to us, and every purchase helps support a more just, honest, and compassionate cannabis community.