Blog Layout

The Social Justice Promise of Psychedelic Decriminalization

Sarah Gersten • September 25, 2023

Originally published as an op-ed in The Crime Reporter.


Across the nation, we’ve seen an exponential expansion in jurisdictions attempting to pass legislation to decriminalize certain drugs–most recently psychedelics. Since 2019, 25 states have considered 74 psychedelic reform bills, 10 of which were successfully enacted. Currently, there are 32 pieces of active psychedelics legislative initiatives, and now, a bill to legalize certain naturally occurring psychedelics in California is headed to Governor Newsom’s desk. This progress comes on the heels of the past decade's monumental shift in drug policy reform and the broad legalization of cannabis. Today, 23 states and the District of Columbia have fully legalized cannabis, and there are now only four states that have no form of legal cannabis. While efforts to legalize cannabis have made tremendous progress that the psychedelics space can hope to emulate, these initiatives continue to fall short in the area of retroactive criminal justice–a failing that drug policy advocates now have the opportunity to remedy with broader decriminalization measures.


Across the nation, we’ve seen an exponential expansion in jurisdictions attempting to pass legislation to decriminalize certain drugs–most recently psychedelics. A
recent analysis of US legislation related to psychedelics found that since 2019, 25 states have considered 74 psychedelic reform bills, 10 of which were successfully enacted. By the end of 2022, there were 36 pieces of active psychedelic drug legislative initiatives, and now, a bill to legalize certain naturally occurring psychedelics in California is headed to Governor Newsom’s desk. Today, 23 states and the District of Columbia have fully legalized cannabis, and there are now only four states that have no form of legal cannabis. While efforts to legalize cannabis have made tremendous progress that the psychedelics space can hope to emulate, these initiatives continue to fall short in the area of retroactive criminal justice–a failing that drug policy advocates now have the opportunity to remedy with broader decriminalization measures.



When the first adult-use ballot initiatives passed in states like Colorado and Washington, the political climate dictated that advocates focus on getting bills passed without comprehensive criminal and social justice provisions. Even though these inclusions are now standard practice for omnibus legalization bills, they often fall short. Social equity programs have been rife with problems, and profitable businesses for those most impacted by the War on Drugs have largely failed to materialize.


Similarly, the criminal justice initiatives meant to repair the harms of prohibition have been a mixed bag. Many states have successfully used cannabis legalization as a means to implement broad reforms–including automatically clearing tens of thousands of criminal records and reducing criminal sentences. Legalization initiatives have now become the broadest and best examples of retroactivity, a concept typically absent in our criminal legal system. Generally, when a law changes, that change applies only prospectively. The criminal justice measures tied to the change in the legal status of cannabis, though, have given us a proof of concept for providing retroactive relief for individuals who may have suffered severe criminal consequences for activity that the general public–and our criminal legal system–now deems acceptable.


That’s not to say that legalization has been a silver bullet for implementing retroactive reforms–ten years in, and we are still figuring out best practices for ensuring relief is guaranteed for eligible populations. Take California, where our organization, Last Prisoner Project, has worked to pass clean-up legislation to finally fulfill the original promise of the state’s Prop 64, which created an adult-use market for cannabis and included several  social equity and criminal justice provisions. Despite such language being included in the original bill, there have been significant delays and issues with implementation. Even after the passage of two pieces of follow-on legislation to address the problems with cannabis record clearance in the state, there are still tens of thousands of Californians waiting for relief.


This is not to downplay the potential for impactful reforms tied to legalization measures. While we continue to face obstacles in advancing cannabis justice, we now have the opportunity to look back on the complexities and pitfalls of successfully joining social justice efforts with drug policy reforms and to take these lessons into the next stage of this movement. As more and more states look to decriminalize psychedelics, it will be imperative that we leverage the successful models utilized for cannabis reform early on. 


Unfortunately, like those early cannabis legalization initiatives, the vast majority of psychedelic reform bills, including SB 58 in California, are absent any social or criminal justice reform. In fact, the 2019 iteration of the bill was the only measure to include any criminal justice provisions (the original language would have dismissed and sealed prior drug convictions that would no longer be unlawful) but that language was removed in the senate. The understandable concern from advocates is that a legalization measure that has the potential to create significant progress for drug policy would fail due to these additional criminal justice reform provisions. But excluding these crucial components from these bills is a mistake we do not need to repeat.


The political landscape has changed immensely in the past decade. Along with the acknowledgment of the failures of prohibition and the War on Drugs, our criminal legal landscape is now marked by a broad consensus to end the country’s reliance on over-criminalization and our mass incarceration epidemic. Luckily, the progress we’ve made on the drug policy front can and must be leveraged to make advancements to our criminal legal system. To merely pass decriminalization laws is not enough to undo the injustices of our nation’s failed War on Drugs. We must ensure that retroactive criminal legal reforms are part of psychedelic decriminalization measures. There is a massive opportunity for true criminal justice reform through progressive changes to our criminal codes. 


Let’s not wait another decade to act on it.


About the Author:


Sarah Gersten
is the Executive Director and General Counsel for the Last Prisoner Project. Throughout her career Sarah has worked at the intersection of cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform. After working as an attorney at a congressional agency where she focused on legislative policy, Sarah co-founded a cannabis-centric law firm where she led the firm's pro bono initiative, taking on expungement and record-sealing cases. Sarah went on to co-found and serve as CEO for a legal tech startup that offers affordable legal solutions for small cannabis business owners, as well as free expungement services. Sarah is a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, the NORML Legal Committee, and the National Lawyers Guild. She received her BA from Tulane University and her JD from Harvard Law School.

By Stephen Post April 1, 2025
In recognition of Second Chance Month, The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that individuals impacted by the criminal legal system receive the support they need to successfully reenter society. At LPP, reentry is at the core of our mission—providing resources, advocacy, and direct financial assistance to those returning home after incarceration for cannabis-related offenses. We would like to honor the amazing advocates and lawmakers who tirelessly working to offer second chances to our constituents who have been experienced injustice due to the war on drugs. Through strategic policy efforts, LPP has contributed to the clearing or pardoning of over 200,000 cannabis-related records, including Governor Wes Moore’s historic clemency action in Maryland, which impacted more than 150,000 people. LPP is proud to support key pieces of upcoming legislation that could propel this movement forward like the Reentry Act of 2025, which would allow states to provide Medicaid coverage to incarcerated individuals 30 days before their release, ensuring they have access to critical healthcare services. Additionally, we endorse the reauthorization of the Second Chance Act, which has provided essential funding for reentry services nationwide since 2008. We are grateful for the efforts of groups like Just Leadership USA and the Council for State Governments for leading advocacy on these bills. LPP's Executive Director, Sarah Gersten said, “At Last Prisoner Project, we believe that no one should be denied a second chance—especially those who were unjustly criminalized for cannabis. True justice means not just release, but real opportunities to rebuild. We call on lawmakers, businesses, and communities to join us in ensuring that every person impacted by cannabis prohibition has the resources and support they need to thrive.” In 2024 alone, LPP provided over $340,000 in reentry grants, contributing to over $3.5 million in direct financial assistance distributed since 2019. These funds play a critical role in easing the transition for those leaving incarceration, helping them cover essential expenses as they rebuild their lives. LPP has also assisted over 400 constituents directly through legal and constituent service programs, helping to eliminate more than 300 years of excessive sentences. Behind these numbers are real people—like Richard Delisi, Michael Thompson, and Kyle Page—who have turned their experiences into platforms for advocacy and entrepreneurship. The Michael Thompson Clemency Project continues to push for justice for those still incarcerated. Entrepreneurs like Kyle Page, Mario Ramos, Donte West, and Alicia Deals are building businesses that create opportunities for others affected by cannabis criminalization. Leaders like Stephanie Shepard, LPP’s Director of Advocacy, use their platforms to fight for lasting policy change. This Second Chance Month, we celebrate the resilience of our constituents and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every person impacted by cannabis prohibition has the opportunity to rebuild and thrive. Join us in advocating for policies like the Reentry Act of 2025 and the Second Chance Act reauthorization to create real pathways to justice and opportunity. By joining forces and advocating for meaningful change, we can pave the way for a society where everyone benefits from the opportunities and benefits of legal cannabis without fear of discrimination or injustice. Together, we can create a brighter future for all. Donate here to help support second chances for our constituents.
By Adrian Rocha March 31, 2025
At the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), we believe that no one should remain behind bars or face the lifelong burden of a criminal record for cannabis-related offenses. That is why we have been working since 2021 to ensure that retroactive relief is provided for individuals in Hawai’i who have been criminalized by outdated cannabis prohibition laws. And this week, we got one step closer to justice. Last year, we helped write HB 1595 (now Act 62), which created a pilot project for state-initiated expungement of non-conviction marijuana possession records on Hawai‘i Island and identified over 2,200 records for relief in Hawai’i. Now, HB 132—which just passed the legislature last week—would help speed up their expungement if signed by the Governor. Unlike traditional expungement processes, which require individuals to apply and pay fees, this project shifts the burden to the state, ensuring that those eligible for relief receive it without unnecessary barriers. After just one month of implementation, the pilot project identified 2,268 records potentially eligible for expungement. As of December 13, 2024, the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) had reviewed 640 of those cases, leading to 81 expungements, 112 cases pending expungement, and 33 denials, with 414 cases still under review. These numbers demonstrate both the necessity and the challenges of state-initiated expungement, particularly in cases where arrest records lack clear substance classification. While Act 62 was a major step forward, a technical issue in the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) has made implementation far more burdensome than anticipated. Currently, the system does not consistently specify whether a charge under section 712-1249, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), was for marijuana or another Schedule V substance. This lack of detail forces HCJDC staff to manually search through arrest and court records, significantly slowing the process. House Bill 132 (HB 132) seeks to resolve this issue with a simple but impactful amendment, making it easier for the state to verify eligibility for expungement. If passed, HB 132 will eliminate the need for extensive manual searches and ensure that more people receive the relief they deserve without unnecessary delays. Expunging non-conviction cannabis-related arrest records is not just about clearing data from government databases—it’s about removing barriers to employment, housing, and other opportunities that so many individuals struggle with due to the collateral consequences of their records. The pilot project and HB 132 are part of a broader movement towards automatic expungement. Twelve other states have already implemented some form of state-initiated expungement, recognizing that justice should not come with a price tag or bureaucratic hurdles. As a member of the Hawaiian Clean Slate Expungement Task Force , LPP will continue to explore expanding eligibility to include conviction records, and HB 132 will serve as an important foundation for further progress. "We are grateful to the Hawai‘i Legislature for recognizing the urgency of this issue and urge Governor Green to swiftly sign HB 132 into law. Together, we are making real progress in dismantling the harmful legacy of cannabis prohibition.,” said Adrian Rocha, LPP's Director of Policy. "We also extend our appreciation to Representatives Tarnas, Belatti, Grandinetti, Iwamoto, Kapela, Kusch, Lee, Marten, Perruso Poepoe, and Matayoshi for their support, the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center, the Attorney General’s office, the ACLU Hawai’i, Health Harm Reduction, Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, Hawai'i Chamber of Sustainable Commerce, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawaii Cannabis Industry Solutions, Marijuana Policy Project, and all stakeholders who have worked to ensure the success of this initiative." Let’s ensure that Hawai‘i remains at the forefront of meaningful cannabis justice reform. Tell Governor Green to sign HB 132.
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.
Share by: