Colorado golfers hit the greens to compete in a charity tournament hosted by Native Roots, with donations of $55,000 raised for the Last Prisoner Project. The action took place on June 6 at Arrowhead Golf Course in Littleton, and saw the local cannabis retailer host their annual tournament to support incarcerated individuals with nonviolent drug charges.
With over 20 dispensary locations throughout the state, Native Roots seeks to provide both cannabis products and community service to Colorado. Their annual charity golf tournament is only one of their pursuits, illustrated by their 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Impact Report. According to Native Roots, the four CSR pillars of the company are DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), community, wellness, and sustainability and are reflected in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions, endorse medical research, and enhance the lives of individuals with long-term disabilities.
The Last Prisoner Project is a nonprofit that works to revert the damage done by the War on Drugs, specifically assisting freeing nonviolent offenders incarcerated with drug charges and rebuilding their lives on the outside. In the last two decades alone, over 16 million Americans have been incarcerated due to drug-related charges, and thousands of those individuals remain in prisons in states where cannabis is now legal.
Stephanie Shephard, director of advocacy at the Last Prisoner Project, attended the charity tournament and accepted the donation. “Native Roots’ generous donation fuels our mission, driving us closer to justice and freedom for unfairly imprisoned, nonviolent cannabis offenses,” says Shephard.
Through direct legal intervention, constituent support, advocacy campaigns, and lobbying for policy change, the Last Prisoner Project continues to work diligently to support individuals with drug charges—both with navigating the justice system and reuniting them with their families and loved ones. Shephard added, “Together, we will right this wrong.”
“We are grateful to the Last Prisoner Project for their hard work,” said Buck Dutton, Vice President of Marketing at Native Roots Cannabis Co. Dutton noted the thousands of those incarcerated with cannabis charges in states where it’s been legalized, and described it as an industry-wide responsibility to help them through meaningful change and actions. Dutton thanked the Last Prisoner Project, stating, “Together, as a community, we can make a difference.”
