Last Prisoner Project Taps Former Executive Of Students For Sensible Drug Policy, Jason Ortiz, As Director Of Strategic Initiatives

Last Prisoner Project announced that Jason Ortiz will serve as the organization’s new director of strategic initiatives.

Jason has been on the frontlines of the cannabis equity movement, and as a a founder and president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, Jason led efforts to create model cannabis equity policies at the state and municipal levels.

In his recent role as executive director with Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Jason pushed federal drug reform by leading an act of civil disobedience at the White House that demanded pardons for those in federal prison for cannabis crimes. He also mobilized a National Federal Lobby Day in DC advocating for cannabis prisoner release, increased accessibility to psychedelic research, and pushed the Department of Education to allow harm reduction on college campuses. In addition to participating in both of these events, LPP worked with Jason to successfully pass prisoner release legislation (HB6787) through the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Jason will also use his deep knowledge of the drug policy space to help LPP assess new opportunities for strategic growth. As more jurisdictions decriminalize other substances LPP has the opportunity to leverage the model they have successfully built for cannabis criminal justice reform to other drugs including psychedelics.

“I became an activist because of how the criminal justice system treated me as a youth, where I narrowly avoided incarceration. I'm eager to focus all of my energy toward making sure no one is left in prison over drug crimes,” stated Ortiz. “Freeing my community from the criminal justice system has always been my passion, and it is an honor to join a team that is focused and effective at freeing our people. With the cannabis and psychedelic industries growing at a rapid pace, my energy is most needed making sure that no one is left behind, and that is exactly what I intend to do as the newest member of the Last Prisoner Project team.”

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Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by geralt and lindsayfox on Pixabay