“It’s just as distressing as the prison itself, if not more distressing.” -Stephanie Sheppard.

Imagine paying the price for crime for the rest of your life. You’ve paid your dues, and now you’re ready to start over as a free American.

But it doesn’t work that way.

The “felon” label restricts your every move and weakens your civil liberties. You’re out of prison, but never really free.

This brutal awakening is a reality for ex-convicts. The cannabis industry’s focus is on freeing people imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis-related crimes, but the devastating consequences of incarceration require equal attention.

“Prison is tough — going home is tougher. It’s as traumatic as, or even more traumatic than, the prison itself.”

That’s the reality of Sheppard.

Now, with a purposeful career at The Last Prisoner Project, she’s an inspiring woman who paid off society’s debts – only to return home with more pain, destruction and heartbreak.

On the first charge of nonviolent conspiracy, Sheppard was sentenced to 10 years in prison — the mandatory minimum. Shepard was jailed at 41.

“My term is not 10 years, but life imprisonment.”

Her sentence will prevent her from starting a family and deprive her of precious time with her elderly father, who died before her release. She was not allowed to see him until he passed by.

However, she was allowed to attend his funeral unaccompanied, and she went straight back to prison – as if she never left.

Once she was finally released, she was under enormous pressure to make an immediate impact in society.

“I had to find a job in two weeks and I chose the first job I was confident applying for, a coffee shop,” she said. “I went in with an ankle monitor and could only work from this time to this time. Feeling disappointed in a coffee shop at 51, but I didn’t have the emotional strength to explain to another person how I became a felon Yes, please give me a chance.”

“I walk differently in these shoes, and I’m overly cautious because I’m afraid of going back to prison,” Sheppard said.

“I still struggle when I see dispensaries and know that people are there to support their families and create intergenerational wealth…and others are in jail like me. The gap is just too big.”

“I always tell people, this can happen to you,” Shepard said. “Technically, from the federal government’s perspective, everyone in these pharmacies could go to jail.”

“Strict compliance with the law rather than the spirit of the law has nearly ruined my life…I am the first white-collar criminal in marijuana history to be convicted of a felony because of my white-collar position…” – Nichole West.

With the rapid expansion of legal marijuana in Colorado, Sweet Leaf Dispensary gained as a consumer brand — until it didn’t.

West was a vice president of the company before its license was revoked, and she was charged with a felony drug offense.

“The problem at the moment is that there is nothing in the law that draws the line and tells us that we can sell [to an individual customer] Once a day, once a week, or every few hours like in many other states…the law simply states ‘every transaction’ and absolutely does not say so,” as West wrote in a letter to her attorneys. as explained.

The Sweet Leaf’s rise has been as dramatic as its fall. In 2018, West served 30 days in prison, suspended for nine months. She is now a felon.

West likens the consequences of incarceration to half a person. The stigma of being an ex-convict and the shutdown of housing, employment, friendships, etc., made her feel like she was still in jail. She imparted wisdom related to what happened to her:

• uncomfortable.

• The cannabis wars are not over.

• If you’re not willing to give everything for this plant – maybe it’s too early for you.

No one should continue to be a prisoner of his crime after his sentence is over.

Sheppard, West, and others trying to re-enter society after their incarceration sent a clear message: Federal and state judicial systems must erase and wipe records, and federal legalization must happen.

Action for every Stephanie Shepard and Nichole West.access nacb.com And send a letter of support to your legislators.

It’s a call to action deletedelete and destroy — not just seal — criminal records.

It’s a call to remove the stigma of incarceration and seek to welcome people incarcerated for marijuana back into society, allowing them to live freely “in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness,” our right as Americans.