Mother collaborates on rolling papers for cannabis criminal justice reform

Vibes, a brand from rapper and entrepreneur Berner, has teamed up with non-profit the Last Prisoner Project and creative agency Mother on a collection of rolling papers. Release Papers will ask the public to learn about the lengthy prison sentences many are currently serving for marijuana-related convictions, and advocate for reform.

Across the rolling paper’s typographic-driven packaging, customers can find a QR code directing them to the Release Papers site. There, they can sign the Cannabis Clemency Now petition, participate in a letter writing programme and learn about four featured individuals who have been convicted for nonviolent cannabis crimes, offering a snapshot of the tens of thousands of people currently serving time in the US under similar sentences. Each paper features the name of one of the four featured individuals, who include Edwin Rubis, Hector Ruben McGurk, Mohamed Taher and Ricardo Ashmeade.

Release Papers, which are currently available for purchase in smoke shops across the US and online, are made in collaboration with Last Prisoner Project. The non-profit has worked on similar projects in the past on its goal to release every last cannabis prisoner as the US moves towards decriminalisation, including Freedoms Grams. A portion of the profits from Release Papers will go towards the advocacy organisation.

“Vibes Release Papers are helping illuminate the injustice our constituents continue to face, even as more states legalise cannabis. President Biden has the power to right history and free Edwin, Hector, Moe and Ricardo with the stroke of a pen,” says Last Prisoner Project’s Stephanie Shepard. “We are grateful to have Vibes join our fight as we keep advocating until everyone still incarcerated for cannabis is fully free.”

“So many people are still locked up with lengthy sentences related to cannabis. While at the same time, so many states have made up their mind that cannabis should be legal, and those states are where those people are still serving time, which makes absolutely no sense. Campaigns like this are part of who I am, we have to speak up, stand next to and support causes like Last Prisoner Project,” says Berner, founder and CEO of Vibes.