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JOIN THE RESULTS
The Forgotten Prisoner is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN - 41-2442306
We rely entirely on private donations to fund our work advocating for individuals still incarcerated under outdated cannabis laws.
While legalization has created opportunity for many, thousands remain behind bars. Your support makes it possible to pursue clemency petitions, coordinate legal intervention, advocate for humanitarian relief, and assist with reentry when freedom is secured.
Freedom requires action. Action requires support.
Your contribution directly fuels case review, legal coordination, medical advocacy, and second-chance pathways for individuals and families impacted by cannabis prohibition.
Support The Forgotten Prisoner in a way that works for you.
Whether through individual giving, corporate partnership, or strategic sponsorship, your contribution becomes part of a larger mission: ensuring no one is forgotten as the industry evolves.
Explore the giving options below to maximize your impact while aligning your support with measurable justice outcomes.
Round Up for Freedom
Is The Forgotten Prisoner’s signature point-of-sale campaign designed to turn everyday purchases into direct action for cannabis justice.
This simple, turnkey initiative empowers dispensaries, brands, and retailers to invite customers to round up their purchase totals to the nearest dollar — with every cent of that difference funding advocacy, clemency efforts, essential prison items, and reentry support for individuals incarcerated on cannabis-related charges.
Round Up for Freedom transforms checkout into impact.
It gives businesses a seamless way to stand for justice, strengthens community engagement, and directly fuels the work of identifying, advocating for, and supporting cannabis prisoners who have been left behind as legalization expands.
As the legal market grows, Round Up for Freedom ensures no one is forgotten.
Partners For Impact
Fueling Justice Beyond Legalization
Partners for Freedom is The Forgotten Prisoner’s flagship corporate giving program for companies seeking to align growth with accountability.
Through annual commitments, partner organizations fund structured legal advocacy, executive clemency campaigns, international humanitarian intervention, and comprehensive reentry support for individuals incarcerated under outdated cannabis laws.
This program provides:
• Impact reporting and measurable outcomes
• Recognition across The Forgotten Prisoner platforms
• Direct alignment with active freedom campaigns
• Strategic positioning as a justice-forward industry leader
Partners for Freedom is built for companies that understand the future of legalization must include responsibility for the past.
Global Cannabis Prisoner Statistics
Cannabis prohibition continues to result in hundreds of thousands of incarcerations around the world. While many countries have begun legalizing or regulating cannabis, a large number of people remain imprisoned for non-violent cannabis offenses.
Because most governments do not track cannabis offenses separately from other drug crimes, global estimates rely on international prison data and drug enforcement statistics.
Global Drug Incarceration
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately 2.2 million people worldwide are incarcerated for drug-related offenses. These cases include possession, distribution, and trafficking of all controlled substances.
Cannabis Share of Drug Arrests
Research from organizations such as the International Drug Policy Consortium and Harm Reduction International indicates that 30–40% of drug arrests globally involve cannabis.
Applying this percentage to global drug incarceration data suggests that hundreds of thousands of individuals are imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses.
Estimated Global Cannabis Prisoner Population
• Total global prison population: ~11.5 million people
• People incarcerated for drug offenses: ~2.2 million
• Estimated cannabis-related incarcerations: 400,000 – 600,000 people
This estimate accounts for uncertainty in reporting, as many countries group cannabis cases together with other drug charges.
Countries With the Largest Cannabis Incarceration Impact
Cannabis prohibition continues to result in imprisonment in many parts of the world. Countries with significant drug-related incarceration include:
• United States
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Russia
• South Africa
In several countries, including Indonesia and parts of Southeast Asia, cannabis offenses can still carry extremely severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty for trafficking.