Karma Koala Podcast 303: Craig Cesal – Federal Cannabis Prisoner 19 Years Discusses Oversight in The Role of Non Profits Involved In Advocating The Release of Incarcerated Individuals | Cannabis Law Report | How to buy Skittles Moonrock online
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The koalas talk with Craig about his experience of being arrested on a cannabis conspiracy charge, spending 19 years in a Federal prison and being released in the first Trump administration to home confinement under the Covid scheme designed to help older vunerable detainees with health issues.
You would have thought thatās where his troubles might have ended, but no, the politics of non-profits involved in aiding the release of non violent cannabis prisoners were about to add a few more chapters to the saga that still sits with him today.
Craig Cesal
In 2002, I was arrested and convicted of conspiring to distribute marijuana and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. My journey of almost twenty years in prison necessitated that I accept responsibility, however, my role in the crime was purely attributed to repairing the trucks that the smugglers utilized. Through the indefatigable work of many not-for-profit organizations such as the Last Prisoner Project, Alice Johnsonās Taking Action for Good, and the Aleph Institute, I received the amazing gift of Clemency. It is ironic and very fitting that every day I now work with the author of my clemency petition, Huma Rashid, Esq. EJNās Director of Clemency. I am exceptionally gratified that through my work, I can impact the lives of others. Second Chance Opportunities is not just a turn of phrase, it is a reality. And one that I wish for so many who still are left in need of the kind of assistance that I received. A proud resident of Lombard, Illinois, I host a podcast, āA Cup of Joe with Joe Grumbine and Craig Cesalā and I am an avid motorcyclist.
Source https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcesal/
Supplementary Information
Marijuana Lifer project
The Marijuana Lifer Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Cheri Sicard (sometimes referred to in industry contexts as Cannabis Cheri or associated with āSheriā due to name similarities in search results). The project is dedicated to advocating for nonviolent federal inmates serving Life Without Parole or de-facto life sentences for marijuana offenses.
Key details about the project and its founder include:
- Mission: The organization focuses on securing clemency, raising awareness, and supporting the needs of prisoners serving life sentences for cannabis.
- Adoption Program: The Marijuana Lifer Project, often working in conjunction with activists like Debbie Goldsberry of Magnolia Wellness, has āadoptedā approximately 100 prisoners to provide direct support, including funding for commissary accounts, letter writing, and holiday cards to ensure they know they are not forgotten.
- Activism: Cheri Sicard shifted from being āpot-averseā to a passionate activist after learning about the severity of punishments in the War on Drugs, with the goal of ending life sentences for marijuana.
- Founder Profile: Cheri Sicard is a writer, author, and activist based in the Greater Los Angeles Area, also known for the book Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women
Press Reports Concerning Craigsās Release
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency
Issued on:Ā January 20, 2021
Craig CesalĀ ā President Trump commuted the sentence of Craig Cesal. Mr. Cesal is a father of two, one of whom unfortunately passed away while he was serving his life sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mr. Cesal has had an exemplary disciplinary record and has become a paralegal assistant and a Eucharistic Minister in the Catholic Church to assist and guide other prisoners. Upon his release, Mr. Cesal looks forward to reintegrating back into society and to contributing to his community while living with his daughter with whom he has remained close. Mr. Cesal hopes to be a part of her upcoming wedding.
Suburban man serving life in marijuana conspiracy has sentenced commuted by Trump
Craig Cesal said one of the biggest advocates for his release was Alice Johnson, who got a full pardon from Trump last year. She was sentenced to life in prison for her involvement in a Memphis cocaine-trafficking ring.
Cesal said one of the biggest advocates for his release was Alice Johnson, who got a full pardon from Trump last year. She was sentenced to life in prison for her involvement in a Memphis cocaine-trafficking ring.
Cesal plans to travel. In addition to visiting the South on a motorcycle, heād like to go to the western United States to thank people in the marijuana industry there whoāve advocated for his release.
In June, the government temporarily released Cesal from the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, and allowed him to return home to Lombard, where heās been staying with his mother.
Cesal was put on home confinement to protect him from getting the coronavirus in prison. He suffers from diabetes and asthma, which put him at risk of having serious medical complications from the virus.
Cesal said heās been allowed to leave home with the approval of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. He said a trip to the doctor was a bit surrealistic.
āI found myself standing right next to a cannabis store on the South Side with a GPS device on my ankle ā knowing I was still serving a life sentence for cannabis,ā he said.
He said he hopes to work for the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit group involved in cannabis reforms. His goal is to help free people locked up on marijuana-related convictions.
LPP had paired Craig CesalĀ with a pro bono attorney to file his compassionate release motion, but he was subsequently granted home confinement in response to the request for release he submitted himself to the warden. LPP will continue to fight for a full commutation of Cesalās sentence via compassionate release and/or executive clemency.
āWe also became the largest single contributor to his GoFundMe campaign [as of last week] so he can have some expense money when he completes the transition,ā DeAngelo said.
Thatās where the reentry program comes in. When individuals are released from prison, data shows most fail without the proper resources in place.
Through the indefatigable work of many not-for-profit organizations such as the Last Prisoner Project, Alice Johnsonās Taking Action for Good, and the Aleph Institute, I received the amazing gift of Clemency. It is ironic and very fitting that every day I now work with the author of my clemency petition, Huma Rashid, Esq. EJNās Director of Clemency.
https://marcbroidy.org/f/equitable-justice-networks-craig-cesal-on-nbc
Beard Brothers
You may also be aware that through a perfect storm of grassroots activism from folks like you, along with a worldwide pandemic and the strain it has put on our fragile prison system, Craig Cesal was released from Terra Haute FCI earlier this year to serve his sentence at home.
As a non-violent, first-time felon serving a life sentence because he worked on trucks that hauled cannabis, Cesal was blanketed with support from the cannabis community and from advocacy groups like The Human Solution International, and individuals like Cheri Sicard who worked day in and day out to keep Cesal connected to the outside world and to ensure that he would see it again for himself one day.
That support came to a head during the peak of the spring wave of COVID-19 and given his age and compromised health, he was sent homeā¦ finally.
Knowing his case and situation as intimately as we do, it was pretty infuriating yesterday when San Jose Inside published a half-baked article touting Steve DeAngelo and a group he helped found called the Last Prisoner Project as the driving force behind Craig Cesalās recent release from prison.
The article reads in part:
DeAngelo said LPP helped Craig Cesalāwho was serving a life sentence without the possibility of paroleāget released on June 16 on a compassion release petition that LPP was āinstrumental in helping put through.ā
Right off the bat, this stuck out as a red flag to those familiar with Cesalās release, since he was not sent home under any ācompassion release petitionā. In fact, no such petition was ever filed for Cesal, not by LPP/DeAngelo or anyone else. The advocates working Cesalās case had a different plan, which worked, which is why DeAngeloās touchdown dance is so gross.
We reached out to Cheri for her reaction and she told us, āI was shocked when I read the quote from Steve DeAngelo saying they were instrumental in his release as I know for a fact that they had NOTHING to do with his release.ā
Contrary to the implication of the article, Craig Cesalās life sentence is still very much intact and as far as he or anyone else knows, he could be called back to prison to serve it.
DeAngelo also uses the free press release to selfie his charity work by hamfisting in the fact that LPP ābecame the largest single contributor to his GoFundMe campaign so he can have some expense money when he completes the transition.ā For the record, they began donating to his cause LAST WEEK. He has been out since June 13th and was in prison since 2002.
This sort of Press Release Protesting, or Slacktivism, is barely better than nothing, and can actually detract from important causes by diminishing the real, hard work that must be done to earn actual freedom for cannabis prisoners. As Cheri told us, āPress release activists definitely hurt the cause, and siphon serious funds away from those doing the real work.ā
In military terms, there is a phrase called āStolen Valorā whereby someone claims to have served in the Armed Forces, and may even go so far as to wear a uniform and medals or badges that they never earned. In 2005, the federal government broadened the penalties that would be imposed on anyone found to be in violation of this sacred honor. Most of the military vets or current servicemembers that I have met wouldnāt call the cops though, it usually just gets really ugly for the bullshitter.
The sooner that the cannabis community as a whole stops putting this particular bullshitter on panels and pedestals, the better.
United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Craig Cesal, Defendant-appellant, 391 F.3d 1172 (11th Cir. 2004)
Full Name: United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Craig Cesal, Defendant-appellant
Citation: 391 F.3d 1172
Date: November 23, 2004
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ā 391 F.3d 1172 (11th Cir. 2004)
November 23, 2004
COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED Mildred Geckler Dunn, Stephanie Kearns, Paul S. Kish, Fed. Pub. Defenders, Fed. Def. Program, Inc., Atlanta, GA, for Defendant-Appellant.
H. Allen Moye, Amy Levin Weil, U.S. Atty., Atlanta, GA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Before CARNES, HULL and WILSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/391/1172/559422/
MORE ACT
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3617
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana_Opportunity_Reinvestment_and_Expungement_Act
https://norml.org/blog/category/the-more-act/
Senator Durban
Senator Dick Durbinās cannabis voting history reflects a gradual shift from a traditional ātough on drugsā stance to a more moderate position that supports medical marijuana research and banking access for legal cannabis businesses, while generally opposing full federal recreational legalization.
NORML
Key Aspects of Durbinās Cannabis Stance:
- Support for Medical Cannabis & Research: Durbin has supported medical marijuana and signed onto bipartisan legislation, such as the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, aimed at reducing regulatory barriers for studying cannabis.
- Support for Banking Access: Durbin has supported the SAFE Banking Act, which allows legal cannabis businesses access to traditional banking services, noting that preventing this access puts businesses at unnecessary risk.
- Opposition to Legalization/Decriminalization: Durbin has expressed concerns about the legalization of marijuana, labeling it a potential āgatewayā drug.
- Criminal Justice Reform: Despite opposing broad legalization, Durbin has stated that possession of marijuana should not be handled through the criminal justice system to avoid filling prisons with non-violent offenders.
- Pardons: He has applauded executive actions to pardon federal offenses for simple marijuana possession.
- Senator Chuck Grassley (.gov)
Evolution of Position:
While previously criticizing state-level medical cannabis programs as āalmost a laughing matter,ā Durbin shifted in 2019 to support legislation aimed at rescheduling cannabis and improving research, earning support from medical and advocacy organizations.
Marijuana Moment
In 2025, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) focused on regulating intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids and advancing medical cannabis research, while simultaneously announcing his retirement at the end of his term.
US Senator Dick Durbin (.gov)
Key cannabis-related actions for Durbin in 2025 included:
- Regulating Hemp-Derived Intoxicants: Durbin supported tighter regulations on hemp-derived cannabinoids (such as delta-8 THC) to prevent their sale in gas stations and convenience stores, citing concerns over youth safety. He joined other senators in urging leaders to regulate, rather than entirely ban, these hemp products.
- Medical Cannabis Research: Durbin introduced legislation aimed at removing federal restrictions on cannabis to allow for increased medical research. He expressed a desire to better understand the therapeutic uses of cannabis, alongside its impact on public safety, drivers, and specific populations.
- Banking Access: Durbin is associated with efforts to improve banking access for legal cannabis businesses, specifically through supporting the SAFER Banking Act.
- Retirement Announcement: Durbin announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, making 2025 one of his final years in the Senate.
- US Senator Dick Durbin (.gov)
+4
Note: In late 2025, Durbinās voting record drew attention, particularly when he voted against a full ban on certain hemp-derived compounds, favoring regulation instead.
NPR Illinois
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Durbin
https://vote.norml.org/politicians/26847
Open Secrets Receipt of money from cannabis Dick Durbin ā 1202 no.12 $1,003
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips?Mem=Y&cycle=2020&ind=N09++&recipdetail=S&sortorder=U
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