During his presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised to decriminalize marijuana and expunge cannabis convictions immediately. For the thousands still serving sentences, there’s one question: what’s he waiting for?

In 2004, Luke Scarmazzo ran one of the first dispensaries in the country. He secured licenses and paid state and federal taxes for his medicinal marijuana business in California. He was convicted and sentenced to decades in prison after a crackdown by the Bush administration.

Parker Coleman was sentenced to 60 years in prison for a non-violent cannabis offense. “I can go and buy shares in weed stocks now, how am I still in here?” Coleman said.  

We spoke with a few of the thousands serving decades-long sentences for non-violent cannabis offenses. Why they’re sitting in prison while the marijuana industry nets billions and grows every day. 

Sign Cannabis Clemency Now’s petition here.