Last Prisoner Project is the poster child association for cannabis advocacy and rights in the USA with its cause of getting non-violent cannabis prisoners out of Federal incarceration and back home with their families.
I can’t argue with that, you can’t argue with that and a host of celebs and cannabis companies are happy to fund them to the hilt as it makes for great PR and is a great way to assuage that nagging guilt that whilst they are minting money others are still locked up for no good reason for the forseeable future.
Last Prisoner Project write in the wrapping up section of their 2024 report
We proudly participate in evaluations by charity monitoring groups. The Last Prisoner Project has achieved a Four-Star Charity designation from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency Rating on Candid, the world’s largest source of information on non-profit organizations. These ratings puts us in the top 0.1% of charities nationally in terms of transparency.
Here’s a roll call of just a small percentage of the names that have supported the organisation over the past five years.
If there was a cannabis industry aristocracy this would be it
Ascend
Curaleaf
Jim Belushi
Leafly
Weedmaps
Wana
Dr Bronners
Dutchie
Ayr
Scotts
Leafly
Canopy
RAW
Pharmacann
Benzinga
TerrAscend
Truelieve
A few recent things popped into the CLR in-tray over December that gave me pause for thought on LPP and how the organization defines itself and what it actually does as we move into 2026
Initially a linked in post about wages at the organisation popped up in my feed and somewhat surprised me, subsequently and entirely unrelated a source spoke to CLR asking the open question asking whether the organisation has moved from being a prisoner advocacy organisation to just being another policy outfit and all that that entails in terms of spend on things other than direct prisoner advocacy
Then as things always come in threes I also noticed via a report in online rag Hollywood Unlocked that LPP Advocacy Associate Donte West was recently to be found in a Indonesian courtroom alongside Jarred Shaw in his high profile medical cannabis gummies case that has now been finalised
Hollywood Unlocked write ..Donte West, who served as Shaw’s international humanitarian negotiator and advocate, was present in court for the verdict. Working side-by-side with Indonesian legal counsel and in direct coordination with the U.S. Embassy, West pushed a humanitarian-centered defense that brought Shaw’s medical reality front and center.
The report does not mention whether West was there on his own dime, on Shaw’s dime, the NBA’s dime, Grissom Miller’s Law Firm dime or on LPP’s dime. But for an organisation that has a plethora of cases of “unknown” people sitting in US jails for years it does seem rather odd that one of “their” people is jetting across the Pacific to be there by the side of a high profile baskeball player and acting as an intermediary between local lawyers, the US embassy and the Indonesian justice system. It would be interesting to learn how this outing was funded ?
The positive result then reported via a Hollywood media outlet
Finally the open question. Will the Trump auto-pen issue undo their good work and should / have they made accomodations for the arbitrary nature of the current administration
Firstly let’s tackle the basic fundamental financials,
What’s coming in and what’s going out?
All numbers are quoted as $USD
2020
In 2,075,822.65
Out 745,890.23
2021
In 3,608,667.00
Out 2,675,017.00
2022
In 3,388,551.00
Out 4,113,135.00
2023
In 2,974,496.00
Out 3,042,077.00
2024
In 2,266,193.00
Out 2,738,267.00
TOTAL
In 14,313,729.65
Out 13,314,386.23
Leaving them + 999,343.42 at end of reporting season 2024
The important thing to highlight is the 2020 & 2021 were the years that have supported the following years with 2024 clawing back the discrepancies of 23 & 24 but without a doubt the spend is up and analyzing that spend is the nub of the issue
If we look at how they then define their incomings and spending year by year
2020
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $1,134,071.89
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $719,192.77
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $181,363.79
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $41,194.20
OUT
PROGRAM SERVICES: $333,106.40
SUPPORT FUND: $195,706.88
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $111,990.41
DEVELOPMENT: $105,086.54
2021
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $1,164,241
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,385,326
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $1,005,246
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $53,854
OUT
PROGRAMS: $1,947,496
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $488,312
DEVELOPMENT: $239,209
2022
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $884,615
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,556,129
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $913,965
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $33,842
OUT
PROGRAMS: $3,098,156
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $605,865
DEVELOPMENT: $409,114
2023
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $649,886
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,435,328
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $859,678
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE $29,604
OUT
PROGRAMS: $2,511,538
MANAGEMENT: $251,365
DEVELOPMENT:$279,174
2024
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $619,379
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $902,433
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $704,325
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE $40,056
OUT
PROGRAMS: $2,270,151
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $192,916
DEVELOPMENT: $275,200
Patterns now start to emerge.
On the in side general donations are on their way down and corporate donations are becoming increasingly important to the organisation via their Partners for Freedom & Roll It Up For Justice programs.
There also seems to be a flatlining effect 2023-24 for these corporate donations which suggests in future years sales and marketing at the organisation wil become increasingly important as the big donors lose the desire to be seen as champions of those less fortunate.
Also RAW have just bought into the bottomless pit that is High Times, he’s known for being overly generous for the right reasons on these issues but how long can these organisations rely on sun king’s Kesselman’s royal like benificence.
I also note this Dutchie program where they match customer donations. Essentially Dutchie are lifting the money from their clients twice. Once through profits from sales and is it possible that accounting managed a write off?. Then on the back of the good nature of their customers they brought in the lions share.
. Does LPP nominate all this money as a corporate donation or is / was it split into 50/50 General, Corporate?
Read more at https://business.dutchie.com/dutchie-lpp
See where this links – https://give.lastprisonerproject.org/give/395648/#!/donation/checkout
This is where we get to the nub of the issue, outgoings.
As always definitions are somewhat vague with emphasis being applied to the catch all phrase “Programs” . I have attached all the reports to thie piece (see below) so it makes it easier to try and define the fluff from the reality. This will always be difficult to define where the money is spent within in programs and how much of that money actually end up with particular incarcerated individuals and their familes
PROGRAM EXPENDITURE
2020 $333,106.40
2021 $1,947,496
2022 $3,098,156
2023 $2,511,538
2024 $2,270,151
Again we see a flatlining as we round out 2024
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
2020 $111,990.41
2021 $488,312
2022 $605,865
2023 $251,365
2024 $192,916
Things got very out of hand in 2021-22 and then have calmed down since although that low number in 2024 looks like massaging when we take a closer look at executive salaries
Non profit explorer can tell us
After six incredibly meaningful years leading the Last Prisoner Project, it’s time for a new chapter—for myself and for the organization.
At our Journey to Justice gala last week, I announced my decision to step down as Executive Director. It has been the honor of a lifetime to help build this organization from the ground up into the powerhouse it is today, representing over 300 constituents, undoing over 400 years of unjust incarceration, passing laws that cleared hundreds of thousands of wrongful convictions, and dispersing nearly $4 million directly to those most harmed by the war on drugs.
While I’ll be stepping away from the executive role, I’ll be staying a part of LPP as a member of the Board of Directors, continuing to support our team and mission in a new capacity.
I’m also beyond thrilled to share that Stephanie Shepard will step in as Acting Executive Director. Stephanie is a passionate advocate and powerful voice for justice. Her leadership, lived experience, and unwavering commitment to our mission make her the ideal person to guide LPP into its next chapter.
As for me, I’m excited about what’s next (which deserves its own post—more on that soon!)
For now, to our partners, supporters, and community: thank you for your trust, energy, and belief in this work. The fight to end this country’s unjust drug war is far from over, and I look forward to continuing it alongside all of you.
- 2023: $186,012 (Base compensation).
- 2022: $156,000 (Base compensation), plus $6,734 in other compensation.
- 2021: $178,922 (Base compensation), plus $6,946 in other compensation.
- 2020: $123,542 (Base compensation), plus $7,345 in other compensation.
- 2019 (Partial): $103,000 (Base compensation), plus $2,403 in other compensation.
In total records tell us she has earnt 2019-2023 $USD770,913.00 under the aegis of the LPP charity
Incoming Executive Director Stephanie Shepard’s renumeration is somewhat harder to define with current publicly available information.
Once again Non Profit explorer tells us
- Total Compensation: $93,417
- Other Benefits/Compensation: $5,979
- Total Payments: $99,396
Next up is Mary Bailey, the Managing Director of the Last Prisoner Project.
As with Shepherd we don’t get a full rundown over the years but what we do know is that her’s and Shepherd’s renumeration is in the same ballpark for LPP work.
Bailey received a reported compensation (Source: ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer and Charity Navigator) of $119,555 (or $119,600 in slightly different reports) in recent years.
This information is available in public nonprofit compensation records.
- Most recent period shown: $119,555 or $119,600
- Prior period: $102,787
- Earlier period: $82,500
I was unable to locate renumeration for the rest of the “team” as highlighted on their website and some may work on a voluntary basis.
it would be interesting to see this documented publicly
Renumeration though is only half the story as Gerston breathlessly informs us in her…. I’m leaving ….Linked In post
At our Journey to Justice gala last week, I announced my decision to step down as Executive Director. It has been the honor of a lifetime to help build this organization from the ground up into the powerhouse it is today, representing over 300 constituents, undoing over 400 years of unjust incarceration, passing laws that cleared hundreds of thousands of wrongful convictions, and dispersing nearly $4 million directly to those most harmed by the war on drugs.
Which leads to the open questions on the undefined area of Development
DEVELOPMENT
2020 $105,086.54
2021 $239,209
2022 $409,114
2023 $279,174
2024 $275,200
TOTAL $1,307,783.50
The word development could mean a host of things but I’m guessing it’s money spent on white papers, lobbyists, marketing and the like.
I’m assuming legal fees etc are drawn from “Programs”. Once again it would be interesting to learn more about this expenditure and have copies of any paid for research, opinons etc published to the site ?
There is this page https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/policy but essentially it says we went there, stayed in a hotel, probably spent money on dinners and policy/ lobbyist wonks .
I know this is how US politics works but as with every other aspect of the cannabis industry LPP seem to be more in the game of policy creation and management than the direct ongoing relationships with prisoners and their families in 2025 which as far as i recall was the original intended modus operandi of the organization when it launched in 2018-19
Even their website can only bring us to 4 success stories hidden half way down this page https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/release
I’m sure there are probably more individuals they have directly helped but shouldn’t these stories come front and center?
The annual reports push the freed prisoner narrative a little more but then as the annual reports are tools to raise funds that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone
On asking Perplexity AI the question
How Many People Have Been Released From Federal Prison In The USA For Cannabis Offences Because of The Direct Intervention of The Last Prisoner Project?
This was the answer given
- Hundreds of individuals released: This includes constituents who received presidential clemency, compassionate release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or sentence reductions secured through legal advocacy and pro bono attorneys.
- Over 400 years of combined unjust prison time saved for their constituents.
- Over 250,000 cannabis offenses cleared (dismissed, modified, recalled, sealed, or reclassified) through policy initiatives and automatic record expungement laws passed in states like California, Maryland, and Hawai’i, which have provided tangible relief to hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Then we asked
List of individuals freed with LPP legal representation?
No comprehensive public list exists of every person freed with direct Last Prisoner Project (LPP) legal representation, but several individual names are documented in LPP and partner materials.
Named individuals with documented LPP role
From LPP’s own announcements and partner releases, the following people are explicitly described as receiving direct legal representation or closely coordinated legal support from LPP in securing release or clemency for cannabis offenses:
-
Andy Cox – Secured compassionate release from a life sentence for a non‑violent cannabis offense in a case handled by Goodwin Procter in partnership with LPP’s Cannabis Justice Initiative.
-
Thomas Anderson – Identified as an LPP constituent whose federal cannabis clemency was granted by President Biden, with LPP stating it “provided direct legal representation, financial assistance, and advocacy” in his case.
-
Rory Meeks – Same LPP announcement lists Meeks among constituents for whom LPP provided direct legal representation and support in obtaining federal cannabis clemency.
-
Danny Harmon – Included in the same group of LPP constituents receiving cannabis clemency, explicitly tied to LPP’s direct legal representation and advocacy.
-
Matthew Nicka – Profiled by LPP as a long‑time cannabis prisoner; LPP later reported that he was among five constituents granted cannabis clemency by President Biden after LPP provided direct legal representation and assistance.
-
Flavio Tamez – Also listed as an LPP constituent for whom LPP provided direct legal representation, financial assistance, and advocacy leading to federal cannabis clemency.
These are the clearest, by‑name examples in recent public sources where LPP itself or a legal partner explicitly connects its representation to a person’s release or clemency.
Individuals with LPP‑supported legal help (not always framed as “representation”)
Some stories describe LPP arranging or supporting counsel, clemency petitions, or legal steps, even if the wording is “supported” rather than “represented”:
-
“José” (surname not given) – In an LPP social post, the organization notes that it “supported José with a pro bono attorney who filed his clemency petition” and then provided a reentry grant after his release.
-
Unspecified “constituents” – LPP’s stories page and impact materials reference multiple “stories of freedom,” where LPP intervention, advocacy, and legal support contributed to releases or transitions to home confinement, but many are anonymized or discussed without explicit representation language.
Because many cases are described using terms like “constituent,” “supported,” or “partner counsel,” and some individuals are anonymized, it is not possible from public material to turn all of these into a precise, exhaustive named list.
Scope and limits of what can be listed
-
LPP and its partners report having delivered millions of dollars in pro bono legal services and securing freedom or sentence reductions for “hundreds” of individuals, but they do not publish a full roster of names.
-
Confidentiality, safety, and privacy concerns likely explain why many clients are not publicly identified by name, and why some are referenced only as “constituents” or by first name.
Given current public sources, the most that can be reliably produced is a partial list like the one above, not a definitive register of everyone freed with LPP legal representation
Finally we asked
Number of clemencies tied to Last Prisoner Project advocacy
The only clearly quantified clemency figures publicly tied to Last Prisoner Project (LPP) advocacy are 5 named clemencies in 2024 and 9 named clemencies in January 2025, for a total of 14 identified LPP constituents.
Documented LPP‑linked clemencies
-
In December 2024, LPP announced that five of its constituents (Thomas Anderson, Rory Meeks, Danny Harmon, Matthew Nicka, and Flavio Tamez) received federal cannabis clemency from President Biden, explicitly stating LPP provided direct legal representation, financial assistance, and advocacy.
-
In January 2025, LPP reported that among Biden’s nearly 2,500 non‑violent drug commutations, nine LPP constituents would be free, with the action described as the culmination of LPP’s early release programs, federal policy work, and campaigns such as Countdown4Clemency and Pen to Right History.
These 14 grants are specifically and by number tied to LPP in official statements, but not all names in the 9‑person group are listed in public summaries.
What is not quantified
-
LPP states that the total number of people incarcerated for cannabis who received commutations in Biden’s January 2025 action is not yet known, and it does not publish a full count of all clemencies where its advocacy played a contributing role rather than direct representation.
-
Other LPP campaigns (letters to governors, state‑level categorical pardons, Countdown4Clemency, etc.) are described as influencing broader clemency practice, but they are not accompanied by a numeric “clemencies attributable to LPP advocacy” figure.
So, on the public record there are at least 14 federal clemencies explicitly tied to LPP constituents, while any broader tally of clemencies influenced by LPP’s advocacy remains unquantified.
In Conclusion
To be clear i sense zero financial impropriety when looking at these numbers. Everything is without doubt above board and to some extent as they highlight in their reports, “transparent”.
But that only tells half the story.
The organisation when imagined was designed to directly help prisoners caught by the drug war and it is worth pointing out that the current ED, Stephanie Shepard, was one of those individuals. I interviewed Shepard in 2024
Last Prisoner project appears to have lost its way and fallen into the trap of becoming a policy organisation that spends less time on the individual and more time on the big picture whatever that means in US politics in 2026
Like all other US cannabis associations it has been sucked into the whirpool of US political strategm that defines success by money spent, media accessed, egos massaged , galas attended, dinners eaten and so on and so forth .
As Mayor Mamdani hits the ground in NY maybe it’s time that the exit of Gerston signals a renewed LPP that heads back to it’s roots and concentrates on the individual rather than the big picture.
Yes influencing how pardons are written and endless legislative proposals is all well and good but what has it achieved other than buttering a process already in play in many states
Being seen with the good and great and having lots of smily don’t we gfeel good working together let’s all have a gold star culture just hasn’t got enough people out of prison.
From this prism far too much money has been spent for too little result.
Let the next chapter at LPP change that. Here’s hoping.
Here’s the info from their finances page
https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/financial-information
The Last Prisoner Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, meaning gifts to the Last Prisoner Project are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. Our Tax ID# is 83-4502829, and proof of our tax exempt status can be found here.
For questions on new or existing donations, contact us at info@lastprisonerproject.org.
Last Prisoner Project launched in September 2019. Every contribution helps fund our programs that make constituents “fully free”. In addition to ourrelease programs, we also help returning citizens rebuild their lives through ourreentry programs.Your contribution also ensures we can continue to work to pursue systemic reform through ourpolicy and advocacyinitiatives. Beyond release, record clearance, and reentry, your support allows us to help our incarcerated constituents access resources like food, healthcare, and phone calls by helping to fund their commissary accounts.
We proudly participate in evaluations by charity monitoring groups. The Last Prisoner Project has achieved a Four-Star Charity designation from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency Rating on Candid, the world’s largest source of information on non-profit organizations. These ratings puts us in the top 0.1% of charities nationally in terms of transparency.
ANNUAL REPORTS
