Last Prisoner Project

In 2019, Steve DeAngelo co-founded the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the profound injustices experienced by individuals incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses.

DeAngelo contributed the name, the core mission—to release every single last cannabis prisoner—and the visual identity of the organization, serving as the creative and artistic director for the design of its original logo. He was instrumental in shaping the organization’s public ethos and driving its early success.

During his tenure as senior advisor through 2023, DeAngelo led the first major rounds of fundraising, brought national attention to the project, and personally recruited key celebrity allies including Jim Belushi, Damian Marley, and Dead Prez. He designed LPP’s flagship fundraising programs and was responsible for recruiting the organization’s initial staff, including Executive Director Sarah Gersten and Managing Director Mary Bailey, as well as the founding members of the Board of Directors.

LPP’s strategic approach—combining direct intervention, policy advocacy, and public education—was shaped by DeAngelo’s decades of experience in cannabis justice work. The organization quickly rose to prominence as one of the most visible and effective advocacy efforts in the post-legalization era.

In 2024, Steve DeAngelo departed from the Last Prisoner Project due to policy and budgeting differences with the Board of Directors and the paid staff. Though no longer affiliated with LPP, he remains deeply committed to the cause of cannabis justice and continues to advocate for the release of all individuals still incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses.