​Robert Franklin Jr. became one of the many Americans caught in the harsh realities of the War on Drugs. Arrested in Missouri for less than one pound of marijuana, Franklin ultimately received a sentence of 22 years in prison without the possibility of parole — a punishment that would cost Missouri taxpayers an estimated $244,057 to enforce.

 

Franklin’s trial took place in Lafayette County, Missouri, a small rural community where he recalls feeling immediately isolated inside the courtroom.

 

“I didn’t understand why I was sentenced so harshly. I got the book thrown at me. Well, you know, I was a Black man in a small white town. Everybody that was in the courtroom was white except for me and my family — the secretary, the stenographer, the prosecutor, my lawyer, the judge, and the jury.”

 

During jury selection, one moment left a lasting impression on Franklin. After the jury had been chosen, a member of the jury pool reportedly asked the court:

 

“How long is this going to take? I’ve got a volleyball game to coach.”

 

To Franklin, the remark suggested that some jurors viewed the trial as an inconvenience rather than a life-altering decision about another human being’s freedom.

 

After the trial concluded, the jury deliberated for just 15–20 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.

 

Franklin was subsequently sentenced to 22 years in prison without parole for a cannabis offense involving less than one pound of marijuana.

Life Inside a Maximum Security Prison

Following sentencing, Franklin was transferred to a Level 5 maximum security facility in Lincoln, Missouri where he spent six years incarcerated alongside individuals convicted of violent crimes.

 

The environment was one of constant tension and danger.

 

Franklin recalls witnessing stabbings, violent assaults, and other incidents that are common in high-security prison environments.

 

“They sent me there with the worst of the worst, and I just had a pound of weed.”

 

He described living in a prison culture where many incarcerated individuals had lost hope for the future.

 

“A lot of those people in there didn’t have hope. They had nothing to live for, nothing to lose. If you got into an altercation, they tried to do more than harm somebody.”

 

One experience that stayed with him involved his own cellmate.

 

“I had a cellmate who shot somebody six times in the face and he got 15 years. And here I was with 22.”

 

For Franklin, the comparison underscored the disproportionate punishment he received for a non-violent cannabis offense.

 

Fighting for His Freedom

While incarcerated, Franklin refused to give up on the possibility of freedom.

 

He spent countless hours in the prison law library studying legal materials and filing petitions in hopes of overturning or reducing his sentence.

 

“I was in the law library so long I became a regular. The secretaries would help me find things.”

 

Franklin filed multiple petitions and applications for clemency, but his first clemency request was denied.

 

Eventually, his case began attracting outside attention. Advocacy organizations and journalists started to highlight the extreme nature of his sentence.

 

The advocacy group Canna Convict Project brought Franklin’s case to the attention of Donte West and Nate Ruby, who began speaking with elected officials about the circumstances surrounding the case and the disproportionate punishment involved.

 

Through coordinated advocacy and public awareness efforts, officials ultimately agreed to support a sentence reduction.

 

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Founder of illicit gardens  Nate Ruby with former Missouri cannabis prisoner Robert Franklin in independence, Missouri. 

 

While I never intended to practice law - that has since changed now that I have met with more and more patients who had their rights taken away or their family member's rights because of marijuana use.

If I do end up passing the bar and getting licensed, I would like to do a lot of pro bono work for marijuana convicts and patients who encounter civil rights issues surrounding the marijuana industry. We can't forget who we all used as steppingstones to get where we are today. I want to be able to put our company in the best position to help them any way we can. Said Nate Ruby to Evolution Magazine ​​​​ 

Release and Reentry

On July 1, 2021, Robert Franklin Jr. was finally released from prison — 11 years earlier than his projected release date.

 

When Franklin was first arrested, his daughter was just 15 months old. His release allowed him to reunite with his family after spending more than a decade behind bars.

 

Donte West and Nate Ruby’s organization also provided Franklin with a reentry grant to help him transition back into society after years of incarceration.

 

Today, Franklin resides in Kansas City, Missouri where he continues working to rebuild his life after the long-term effects of incarceration.

 

The Lasting Impact of Incarceration

Despite his release, Franklin says the psychological effects of prison remain.

 

“I’ve been free since July 2021 but I’m still on edge. I’m always watching people and their movements. I don’t really do social things anymore.”

 

Like many formerly incarcerated individuals, he has faced challenges adjusting to everyday life, including employment opportunities and social reintegration.

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A Message to Others

When reflecting on his experience, Franklin often shares a message of caution and reflection:

 

“Think before you act. Don’t move off your emotions. Don’t keep your mind cloudy. And keep you a good lawyer.”

 

Why This Case Matters

Robert Franklin Jr.’s case represents the human cost of the War on Drugs. A non-violent marijuana offense resulted in more than a decade of incarceration in a maximum-security prison.

 

His story illustrates why advocacy organizations like The Forgotten Prisoner continue to fight for justice reform, clemency, and second chances for individuals still serving excessive sentences for cannabis offenses.

 

Listen to Robert Franklin interview at illicit Gardens Freedom Campaign :

https://www.illicitbrand.com/freedoms

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