Connect with us

Legal

E-Commerce Platform Dutchie Partners with the Last Prisoner Project

The Oregon-based cannabis technology company pledges to aid imprisoned victims of the War on Drugs.

mm

Published

on

Dutchie co-founders Ross Lipson, left, and Zach Lipson have pledged to match $1 million in donations to the Last Prisoner Project. PHOTO CREDIT: DUTCHIE

Dutchie this month announced a new partnership with the Last Prisoner Project. The Last Prisoner Project is a nonprofit dedicated to undoing the damage done to people jailed and imprisoned for non-violent offenses during the U.S. “War on Drugs” and seeks release for those imprisoned on cannabis charges.

Dutchie, founded in 2017, is Bend, OR-based cannabis e-commerce platform connecting consumers to local cannabis retailers.

To kick off the partnership, Dutchie donated US$100,000 to the Last Prisoner Project and has pledged to match up to $1 million in donations from its dispensary partners and customers. Dutchie’s initial donation will create 400 new grants to help formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society.

Through the partnership, Dutchie will support the Last Prisoner Project’s range of efforts—which include the expungement of criminal records, re-entry support for the convicted and legal reform—by also providing its digital commerce technology to help generate and process monetary contributions to the nonprofit.

The Last Prisoner Project was founded in 2019. Backed by cannabis industry leaders, criminal and social justice advocates, and policy and education experts, The Last Prisoner Project is devoted to freeing the estimated 40,000 individuals still incarcerated for non-violent cannabis crimes.

While cannabis has been formally legalized or informally decriminalized in all but a handful of states, many Americans, primarily those of color, remain behind bars for cannabis-related crimes. This is especially true for Black Americans, who are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested on cannabis charges than white Americans.

Advertisement

“Dutchie is committed to having a positive impact on the future of the cannabis industry and the broad benefits it is bringing to society. We cannot erase past injustices that people and communities have experienced as a result of decades of failed cannabis policy,” Dutchie co-founder and CEO Ross Lipson said in a statement.

“But we can work to bring restitution to those who have been harmed by supporting their release from incarceration and giving them a new lease on life. We are committed to advancing our shared vision to release those behind bars for non-violent cannabis offenses and we’re excited to leverage the Dutchie ecosystem to help scale our impact.”

Dutchie counts among its missions creating equity for underrepresented and marginalized groups. The company, currently valued at $3.75 billion and providing services to more than 5,000 dispensaries throughout the U.S. and Canada, has social programs designed to support Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC). Dutchie is a member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and through various training and marketing stipends, it also champions the cause of women-led dispensaries.

“We are excited to begin our partnership with Dutchie and grateful for their generous support of our mission. Together, we will redress the harms of cannabis prohibition by advancing crucial criminal justice and drug policy reforms,” Last Prisoner Project managing director Mary Bailey said.

“More than 15.7 million Americans have been arrested for nonviolent cannabis crimes in the last two decades. Some of whom are serving life sentences without parole. Together, we’ll help give people and families their lives back.”

Through intervention, advocacy and awareness campaigns, the Last Prisoner Project works to redress past injustices and continuing the harm of ineffective cannabis laws and policies. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to donate and learn more.

Advertisement

Brad Cheng is the digital editor of Global Cannabis Times, produced by SmartWork Media. Brad's journalism career spans working as an editor for PR Newswire, The Nation and The Santa Barbara News Press, and as Managing Editor of The Katy Courier, and publisher of Now This in Princeton. His career as a screenwriter took him into entertainment advertising, writing major film campaigns for studios and for HBO.

Advertisement

SPONSORED VIDEO

Going Global - Pioneering Cannabis Hospitality: A Conversation with Arend Richard

In this enlightening interview, Arend Richard, a seasoned entrepreneur from the cannabis industry, shares his journey from starting a YouTube channel to educate on cannabis use, to co-founding WeedTube, and developing a unique cannabis hospitality business. Born and raised in Colorado, Aaron discusses the evolution of his business ventures and his current project—creating a welcoming, educational environment for both seasoned and first-time cannabis users. He delves into the challenges of establishing a cannabis-friendly social space, including regulatory hurdles and community engagement, and highlights his vision for a new kind of social interaction centered around cannabis.

Promoted Headlines

Most Popular