The United States stands at a crossroads in its approach to cannabis. While 24 states, Washington, D.C., and two territories have legalized cannabis for adult use, thousands of individuals remain behind bars for non-violent cannabis offenses. Many of these people, like Edwin Rubis, have been serving decades-long sentences for actions that are no longer considered crimes in much of the country. This is an injustice that demands immediate correction.
Cannabis prohibition has left a devastating legacy, particularly for non-violent offenders. Despite the growing wave of legalization, the justice system continues to lag. While President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders, many long-time cannabis prisoners were left behind. Edwin Rubis, for instance, has served over 20 years of a 40-year federal sentence for a non-violent cannabis offense—an egregious punishment that reflects the systemic inequities of the War on Drugs.
Release all Non-Violent Cannabis Prisoners
The American public overwhelmingly supports cannabis reform. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that 70% of Americans favor cannabis legalization, including majorities across political lines. The discrepancy between public opinion and the continued incarceration of non-violent cannabis offenders highlights a failure to address past wrongs.
While recent clemency actions are a step forward, they fall far short of meaningful justice. Clemency and pardons for non-violent cannabis prisoners must be prioritized—not just for a select few but for everyone whose lives have been upended by outdated and punitive drug policies. The failure to do so perpetuates an unjust system that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.
By granting clemency or pardons to individuals like Edwin Rubis and countless others, we can take a critical step toward attempting to rectify the injustices of the past and aligning our policies with the values of fairness and equity that the majority of Americans support.
Edwin Rubis
Edwin Rubis has been incarcerated since 1998, serving a 40-year federal sentence for a non-violent cannabis-related offense. At the time of his arrest, he was 29 years old, living with his pregnant wife and young son. Struggling with drug addiction, Rubis became involved in transporting cannabis to repay debts to dealers. Despite no drugs, guns, or money being found in his possession at the time of arrest, he was convicted and received a disproportionately harsh sentence.
During his 27 years of incarceration, Rubis has demonstrated significant personal growth and rehabilitation. He has earned three college degrees, including a master’s, and is pursuing a PhD in religious studies. A devout Christian, Rubis has mentored fellow inmates, helping them overcome destructive behaviors and addictions.
Advocates have been urging for his clemency, especially as societal attitudes toward cannabis have shifted, and many states have legalized its use. Despite these efforts, as of January 2025, Rubis remains incarcerated. As mentioned President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses, including those serving disproportionate sentences for cannabis. However, Rubis was not among those granted
Rubis’ case highlights the ongoing disparities in the criminal justice system, where individuals remain imprisoned for actions that are now legal in many parts of the country. Advocates continue to call for his release, emphasizing his rehabilitation and the changing legal landscape surrounding cannabis.
This is printed with permission from Beard Brothers Pharms and was authored by Ediwn himself
January 20, 2025, rolls around. I am glued to one of the three television screens, watching the inauguration of President Donald Trump. In the distance I see Marine One fly away from the White House rotunda with President Biden and the First Lady, along with my hopes and dreams of being released from prison.
I walk away from the cramped and noisy television area, change into my heavily worn exercise clothes, then proceed to do a three-hour callisthenic workout regimen to the point of exhaustion. I follow-up with a cold shower, then go to sleep on my paper-thin mattress for the rest of the day.
Since 1998, I have been asking for a second chance at life. In 2007, I requested clemency from President Bush, and it was immediately denied. In 2016, President Barack Obama granted over 1,700 clemency petitions, and denied mine, while some of the recipients had violent records and cases far more severe than a marijuana crime. In 2019, President Trump left office without a reply. And now, on the Martin Luther King holiday, president Biden has left me behind.
How long will this ordeal of confinement last? How much more punishment must I bear until I see the light of day? Twenty-seven years in prison is a hard pill to swallow. Every day has been torture. Every day spent in a 10×10 foot prison cell wishing I could hug my parents and sons. The cloak of loneliness and despair I constantly wear is now faded and worn. The ongoing illusion of reprieve about to reach 10,000 days in prison.
I’ve just been simply left behind, while “The War on Cannabis” still goes on and on… Where’s the mercy? Where’s the justice? Where’s the President who’ll pardon me? Whatever happens or not happen from now on, I’ll continue on living my days behind barred windows and razor wire fences. I’ll continue living without hope for freedom.
Perhaps one day, when I am old and gray, the mirage of the illusional optimism I clung onto over the years will give way and call me home … who knows? For now I’ll just remain at the “Land of Ash”. A low-security prison without much to give, but the harsh punishment of 40 years for selling weed.
Edwin Rubis
