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Some Michigan Dispensary Owners are Millionaires while others are Inmates— Rudi Gammo’s Story

Mariah Daly • October 5, 2020

Some Michigan Dispensary Owners are Millionaires while others are Inmates— Rudi Gammo’s Story

2018 marked a historic year for cannabis legalization in Michigan as it became the 10th state, and the first state in the midwest, to legalize the possession and sale of cannabis for adult-use. 2018 also marked a historic injustice when husband and father of three Rudi Gammo was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his operation of a city-sanctioned medical cannabis dispensary in Detroit.


While dispensaries have been operating legally in the state for almost two years, Rudi still languishes in prison for his victimless cannabis offense. Despite the fact that Michigan allows adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and grow up to 12 plants at home, Rudi was accused of running a "criminal enterprise" for allowing people to grow cannabis out of homes he owned in Oakland County for his dispensary.


From 2010 to 2016, unlicensed and unregulated gray market product was grown by caregivers and sold by hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in Michigan. Before 2018, this was the only way to operate and was permitted by most municipalities. Although Rudi’s municipally licensed dispensary in Detroit did nothing different and only distributed to verified patrons possessing medical marijuana cards, he was still sentenced to prison for a significant portion of his children’s’ young lives while others continue to profit unscathed. Today, there is still no uniformity in who gets prosecuted and sent to prison and who profits millions of dollars off of the very same actions and the very same industry.


Beyond this disparity in prosecution, Michigan is also lagging behind other recreational markets in terms of overall restorative justice legislation. It is the only state of the 13 states that have legalized for adult-use that has not provided for broad expungements for prior cannabis offenses (though a bill to change that recently passed in the senate). Despite a campaign promise to support cannabis expungements, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has still done nothing to advance this important policy issue. Because Governor Whitmer has failed to act, Rudi’s wife and three children still struggle today, particularly during the pandemic.


“My husband is everything for us, everything. He is the head of the family and he supports us on everything no matter what it is...My kid’s probably going to be 10 years old when he comes home. I just want a little bit of mercy, because my kids and me and my whole family need him, need him back." Rudi’s wife Vida told WXYZ News. Rudi’s children are reportedly receiving counseling as a result of the trauma of losing their father to the criminal legal system.


It is far past time that Michigan not only provide for a clean slate for those with cannabis offenses on their records via mechanisms like auto-expungement, but also commute the sentences of nonviolent marijuana offenders still serving time like Rudi. Rudi is a trailblazer in the cannabis industry--risking his freedom and his family’s wellbeing to contribute to an industry that along with providing an economic benefit to the state, also provides patients with often life-saving medicine. The industry, as well as our government, must be compelled to act in a way that ensures fairness and equality and restores freedom and justice for prisoners of the unjust drug war.


Stories like Rudi’s prove that legalization alone does not automatically repair the longstanding injustices and disproportionate enforcement of our legal system resulting from prohibition. Lawmakers and elected officials in Michigan must do their part to ensure that with legalization comes a system for redressing the past harms of the War on Drugs.



Last Prisoner Project,
MI Cannabis Caucus, Redemption, and other cannabis advocates are working together to raise awareness and funding to support release & reentry efforts for Rudi Gammo, Michael Thompson, and other cannabis prisoners in Michigan. To donate to the Michigan Cannabis Prisoner Relief Fund, please go to http://bit.ly/MICannabisPrisonerRelief.

By Stephen Post March 25, 2025
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Governor Youngkin has once again vetoed a critical cannabis justice bill. Despite overwhelming support from Virginia’s General Assembly, the governor has chosen to deny relief to thousands of individuals who remain incarcerated or under state supervision for cannabis-related offenses—convictions tied to laws that have since changed. Last year, Youngkin vetoed a similar bill designed by Last Prisoner Project (LPP), denying potential freedom to more than 1,844 people. This year, the legislature advanced two key bills aimed at providing relief. HB 2555 would have created a sentence modification process for individuals still impacted by outdated cannabis laws. Instead of signing this measure into law, Youngkin has once again chosen to uphold the injustices of the past. Luckily, the other bill, SB 1466, which will streamline state-initiated expungements for cannabis offenses, sealing ancillary records such as probation violations and failures to appear related to past cannabis charges, was approved by Gov. Youngkin, but will be sent back to the legislature with amendments. The Commonwealth should be concerned that the Governor admits cannabis is both the cause of and contribution to thousands of individual's criminal sentences but it is unwilling to adopt a solution to prioritize relief while preserving a commitment to public safety by vesting oversight throughout the process. The governor's office ultimately approved record relief for certain cannabis convictions, but for those behind bars, this administration has once again failed to deliver lasting change. LPP has been at the forefront of the fight for justice in Virginia. Our Director of Policy, Adrian Rocha, provided testimony in support of these bills, underscoring the urgent need to right the wrongs of cannabis prohibition. Additionally, LPP's Director of Advocacy, Stephanie Shepard, who herself served time for a cannabis offense, penned a powerful op-ed in Virginia emphasizing the necessity of these reforms and the human toll of continued incarceration. Virginia ended cannabis prohibition in 2021, yet many remain incarcerated for offenses that are no longer crimes. The Virginia Department of Corrections reports an average annual cost of $33,994 per incarcerated individual, while Virginia has generated over $8 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana as of 2023. HB 2555 was a crucial step toward justice—one the Governor has now denied. The governor’s decision ignores the will of the people and the reality that cannabis reform is not only necessary but overwhelmingly popular. Polling shows that 84% of registered voters support releasing individuals incarcerated for offenses that are no longer illegal. With each veto, Youngkin chooses to leave families separated and lives needlessly disrupted, all while Virginia’s legal cannabis industry continues to grow and generate revenue. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the advocates and organizations who have fought tirelessly for justice, including Marijuana Justice Virginia, Nolef Turns, the Virginia NAACP, NORML, the Virginia Student Power Network, The New Majority Virginia, and Rise for Youth. While this veto is a setback, it is not the end. The fight for cannabis justice continues, and LPP remains committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. We will not stop until every cannabis prisoner is free.
By Stephen Post March 20, 2025
As we reflect on our first five years of impact at the Last Prisoner Project, we are thrilled to share an exciting new development: Norman L. Reimer has joined our Board of Directors! Norm is a transformational leader in the fight for justice and he will play a key role in shaping our vision for reuniting families, rebuilding lives, and reimagining drug policy. Norm Reimer has devoted his career to the defense of the accused and reform of the justice system. As a criminal defense attorney, he has represented accused individuals at the trial and appellate level and in state and federal courts for four decades. As a reformer, he leads efforts to reform misguided policies and practices that fuel mass incarceration, overcriminalization, and disparate impact. Norman’s noteworthy achievements include co-founding the John Adams Project in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union to provide attorneys trained in capital defense to represent the accused in the military commission proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, and leading a collaboration among several groups during the Obama administration to establish Clemency Project 2014, a cadre of volunteer lawyers, which secured the commutation of long federal prison sentences for 894 individuals, including more than 300 who were serving life sentences. Norm is currently Of Counsel at Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C. , where he continues his criminal defense work. His previous positions include serving as Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, CEO of Fair Trials, and President of the New York County Lawyers’ Association. He also served as an Adjunct Law Professor at New York Law School, where he taught trial practice. Norman earned his B.A. and J.D. from New York University.
By Stephen Post March 11, 2025
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) has submitted a formal comment to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), advocating for critical changes to federal drug sentencing guidelines and supervised release policies. LPP’s recommendations aim to reduce overly punitive sentencing practices, promote rehabilitation, and improve public safety. Reforming Supervised Release LPP supports proposed amendments granting courts greater discretion in imposing and modifying supervised release. Overly rigid supervision can create unnecessary barriers to successful reintegration, increasing the likelihood of recidivism. Key recommendations include: Individualized assessments : Courts should tailor supervised release terms to the specific needs of each individual. Elimination of unnecessary supervision : LPP urges the removal of mandatory supervised release requirements when not explicitly required by statute. Early termination of supervision : Encouraging courts to assess whether continued supervision is necessary after one year, reducing unnecessary burdens on individuals and the justice system. Reducing Drug Sentences LPP also calls for major reforms to the Drug Quantity Table, advocating for reductions in base offense levels across all substances, with additional reductions for cannabis and psychedelics due to their increasing medical recognition and evolving legal status. Lowering the highest base offense level to 30 (or lower) : Research consistently shows long prison sentences do not improve public safety and can actually increase recidivism. Proportional reductions across all drug types : Harsh sentencing has not been an effective deterrent, and a more balanced approach is needed. Additional reductions for cannabis and psychedelics : Given their lower risk profiles and medical potential, sentences for these substances should be significantly reduced. Addressing Low-Level Drug Offenses LPP supports a six-level sentence reduction for individuals convicted of low-level trafficking roles. Many involved in minor drug-related offenses are individuals with limited economic opportunities, and excessive sentences do little to address the root causes of their involvement. Retroactive Application of Sentencing Reforms Currently, approximately 63,000 people are serving federal sentences for drug-related offenses, many under outdated guidelines. LPP urges the Commission to apply any sentencing reductions retroactively, allowing individuals already incarcerated to benefit from these long-overdue reforms. LPP commends the USSC for considering these reforms and urges them to take bold action. By implementing these changes, the Commission can help reduce mass incarceration, promote fairness, and allocate resources toward more effective public safety strategies.
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