State of Kansas 

County: Geary 
Name: Antonio Wyatt ( Hometown: State of Tennessee ) 
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute cannabis 
Amount: 5 Pounds 
Sentence: 142 months 
Admission Year: 2018
Current status: Clemency submitted for re-consideration February 26, 2026

CASE SUMMARY:

Antonio Wyatt is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence in Kansas for a non-violent cannabis offense, highlighting the harsh marijuana laws that still exist in the state. His case has become a national example of the continuing impact of outdated cannabis prohibition policies.  

In May 2017, Wyatt was stopped by Kansas Highway Patrol while driving on Interstate-70 from Colorado to Tennessee. During the traffic stop, officers searched his vehicle and discovered approximately 8 pounds of cannabis.  

Although this was a first-time offense, Wyatt was convicted after a bench trial and on February 16, 2018, he was sentenced to 142 months (nearly 12 years) in prison under Kansas drug laws

Kansas remains one of the few U.S. states where marijuana is still fully illegal, and possession or distribution can lead to significant criminal penalties.