It's the most wonderful time of the year again, even though it's statistically not-so-wonderful year. Californians are making due and settling at home for a cozier, low-key holiday—which is the inspiration behind our new holiday preroll collection—but we know things are, well, different.
Despite 2020 being a year we're happy to put in hindsight, we're thankful that we're able to be home for the holidays. And while we have the privilege to package celebratory cannabis to make everyone's at-home holiday cozier and all the more festive, we'd be remiss to not acknowledge the fact that there are people imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis offenses who, in turn, can't be with their own families. Because of this, we're proud to be a partner to Last Prisoner Project.
In case you missed our latest announcement, a portion of all proceeds from our limited-edition holiday collection is directly benefiting three constituents and their families via Last Prisoner Project. In a reflection of holiday gratitude, we're sharing these constituents’ stories to shed light on the necessary work Last Prisoner Project is doing, along with the ways that you can help. Island’s contributions (and your own!) will be directly benefiting:
Corvain Cooper grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where his passion for fashion led to him opening a small clothing business in his neighborhood. In 2013, he was arrested for a minor role in a cannabis distribution operation. Due to his refusal to testify against others and having a third strike (with the two priors also being cannabis possession offenses), he is now serving life in prison. Corvan is a devoted father and son, but has been unable to see his family since he was transferred from his California prison to a federal prison in Louisiana. The prior charges that led to his life sentence have now been reduced to misdemeanors under California law, but the Supreme Court has refused to reconsider his sentence. You can sign a petition to commute his sentence here.
Rudi Gammo is a husband and father of three young children who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 after opening a city-sanctioned medical cannabis dispensary in Detroit. While he was doing nothing differently than other dispensaries, he was accused of running a “criminal enterprise” because he allowed people to grow cannabis out of homes he owned in Oakland County for the dispensary.
Michael Thompson is serving a de facto life sentence for selling three pounds of cannabis to a police informant in Michigan. During the 25 years he has spent in prison, his father, mother, and only son have passed away. Cannabis is now legalized in the state of Michigan, and he continues to fight for clemency from the Michigan governor. You can watch a video about his case from Last Prisoner Project here.
You can read more about other constituents and the work Last Prisoner Project is doing on their website.
