Last Prisoner Project Has Freed Dozens, Provided $4M in Legal Aid

The Last Prisoner Project has delivered more than $4 million in legal services since its 2019 founding, securing freedom for some of America's longest-serving cannabis inmates while the legal industry generates billions in annual revenue.

Mary Bailey, who co-founded the nonprofit advocacy group, told High Times her work began after encountering a social media video that "stopped her cold" — though the organization has since evolved into one of the most effective clemency operations in the cannabis space. LPP now employs a team of attorneys and policy experts focused exclusively on cannabis-related incarceration.

The disparity is stark. While multistate operators like Curaleaf and Trulieve report quarterly revenues exceeding $300 million each, an estimated 40,000 Americans remain incarcerated for cannabis offenses that are now legal in 24 states. Federal prisoners serving sentences for marijuana cultivation or distribution face particularly long terms, with some having served more than two decades.

The Clemency Pipeline

Last Prisoner Project operates on multiple fronts: direct legal representation, clemency petition assistance, and reentry support for released prisoners. The organization has participated in clemency cases across federal and state systems, including several high-profile releases during the final months of the Trump administration.

But the work extends beyond individual cases. LPP has pushed for broader policy reforms, including automatic expungement provisions in state legalization bills and federal sentencing guideline changes. Bailey and her team regularly testify before state legislatures considering adult-use programs.

"We're not just getting people out," Bailey said in the interview. "We're trying to prevent this from happening again."

The organization tracks its impact through detailed case metrics. According to LPP's most recent annual report, the group has provided legal services to more than 350 individuals and secured releases for dozens of prisoners, including several serving life sentences for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

Industry Funding Questions

As the legal cannabis market approaches $30 billion in annual U.S. sales, questions persist about industry responsibility for criminal justice reform. Some multistate operators have established social equity programs or donated to clemency organizations, but critics argue the contributions remain modest relative to revenue.

Last Prisoner Project relies on donations from individuals, cannabis companies, and foundations. The organization has received funding from industry players including GTI, Wana Brands, and Cookies, though Bailey has said corporate contributions represent only a portion of LPP's budget.

Several state legalization measures now include provisions requiring cannabis tax revenue to fund expungement and reentry services. Illinois dedicates 25% of its cannabis tax receipts to its Restore, Reinvest, and Renew program, which has awarded more than $100 million in grants since 2020.

What's Next

Bailey indicated LPP's work will continue as long as cannabis prisoners remain behind bars. The organization is currently focused on federal clemency petitions, with dozens of cases pending review. President Biden granted pardons for simple federal marijuana possession in 2022, but those pardons didn't cover trafficking or cultivation charges — the offenses carrying the longest sentences.

LPP is also tracking state-level clemency opportunities. Governors in several legal states have signaled openness to cannabis-related pardons, though the pace of releases has been slower than advocates hoped. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued expedited pardons for marijuana possession cases in 2023, but similar efforts in other states have stalled.

The organization plans to expand its reentry support services, recognizing that freedom alone doesn't address the challenges former prisoners face. LPP now offers job placement assistance, housing support, and connections to expungement services in states where criminal records can be cleared.

For Bailey, the work remains personal. The video that launched her advocacy — and the thousands of cases she's encountered since — underscore what she calls the fundamental injustice of cannabis prohibition's legacy: profit for some, prison for others.

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This article is based on original reporting by hightimes.com.