As we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, MUNCHIES! is proud to announce a special promotion in honor of MLK’s legacy. Embrace the spirit of equality and justice with our exclusive 25% off sitewide offer. Our brand’s commitment to social change extends through our partnership with the Last Prisoner Project, a noble initiative dedicated to criminal justice reform.

If you haven’t heard of it yet, the Last Prisoner Project is something that’s certainly worth checking out. This organization is fighting the good fight, rallying against the United States government, which continues to unfairly imprison tens of thousands of individuals for offenses that are now no longer considered illegal, mainly in relation to cannabis possession and use.

The problem of unfairly imprisoned individuals for so-called offenses that are no longer considered illegal ties in with the greater Civil Rights Movement that started so many decades ago.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is now upon us, a day in honor of the man who effectively started the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Thus, it’s worth looking into the state of civil rights in the USA, now nearly 60 years after King Jr.’s tragic assassination. So, how does Martin Luther King Jr. tie in with The Last Prisoner Project? Let’s find out!

Our Commitment to Quality and Community at MUNCHIES!

MUNCHIES!, renowned for its award-winning hemp-derived cannabis products, stands at the forefront of quality and customer satisfaction. Our range, from euphoric full-spectrum delta 9 THC gummies to relaxing vape products, is designed to cater to diverse needs while ensuring compliance with the highest standards. This MLK Day, we intertwine our commitment to excellence with a profound dedication to social justice.

Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

If you research history, you’ll find hundreds of books, articles, movies, and everything in between about a man named Martin Luther King Jr, who many would say is arguably the greatest proponent of civil liberties in the USA.

The Atlanta, Georgia native was born in 1929 into a world that did not appear to like him or want him in it, a world where the color of your skin dictated your status in society.

As Martin Luther King Jr. quickly discovered, according to the powers that be, his skin color was not of the desirable kind, and thus began his noble struggle.

Using the years of education and many degrees that he earned from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, Boston University, MLK would launch what is often thought of as one of the most successful yet peaceful human rights campaigns in all of human history.

Thanks to Martin Luther King Jr., several defining pieces of civil rights legislation were passed in the United States, effectively providing those with black skin and other minorities the same rights, protections, and liberties afforded to all other citizens of the USA, the same rights as the white man.

Although Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically assassinated in April of 1968 by the powers working against him, his legacy lives on to this very day.

With this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we at MUNCHIES! would like to stand in solidarity with anyone who has been the victim of unfair persecution. This year, we’re talking specifically about those people who are still illegally imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses, which are no longer considered illegal.

Martin Luther King Jr: The Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement

The US Civil Rights Movement began in none other than Montgomery, Alabama, where on a fateful day, one old black woman by the name of Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus.

With one simple yet momentous act of courageous defiance, Rosa Parks sparked what would explode into a decades-long Civil Rights Movement that would change the course of history forever.

After Rosa Parks’ act of defiance, Martin Luther King Jr. and several other leaders in the black community decided it was time to stand up and fight for the rights of everyone who was being stepped on by the bootheels of the American government.

MLK Jr. and other black leaders founded the SCLC or Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which staged a number of effective and non-violent protests against the then-still-existing Jim Crow laws, which served to oppress the black community.

Of course, what most people remember about Martin Luther King Jr. is the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, words that remain ingrained in the minds of anyone who was lucky enough to hear him speak those words at the time. These words are arguably some of the most powerful and influential ever uttered in the defense of civil rights for all Americans.

Thanks to Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his associates, both the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act effectively provided all Americans, particularly those with black skin color, with the same rights and protections as everyone else, including the right to vote in elections.

Although this effectively put an end to the Jim Crow laws and segregation, the unfortunate reality is that oppression would continue to thrive and still lives on to this day. This is something that can be seen by current US federal and state prison populations, with those of darker skin color seemingly making up a large bulk of the prisoners, and unfairly so, an issue that The Last Prisoner Project aims to tackle.

Cannabis Offenses and the Current State of Civil Rights in the USA

Although Martin Luther King Jr. never directly advocated for cannabis legalization or use, his fight for civil liberties and equality for all tie in neatly with today’s state of civil rights in the USA, even in relation to cannabis and those imprisoned due to cannabis offenses.

To give you a better picture of what the current state of civil rights in the USA is like, let’s take a look at some very interesting statistics.

The most striking statistic is this: Black Americans make up around 13% of the total US population, yet account for a whopping more than 37% of prison inmates. Anybody with eyes can clearly see that there is a bit of a discrepancy here.

Another interesting statistic is that as of 2021, according to The Last Prisoner Project, well over 40,000 US citizens are currently imprisoned in both federal and state facilities for cannabis offenses, which by all means are no longer considered illegal.

For whatever reason, even though the offenses that these people were originally arrested for are no longer considered illegal, the government and the American prison complex have refused to release these people, as they are rightfully and legally obligated to do.

Make no mistake about it: there are tens of thousands of innocent individuals who are being unlawfully held in prisons for reasons that are no longer valid. Now, you might be wondering how these prison population statistics, civil liberties, and cannabis issues all tie together.

Well, here are two interesting statistics that should shed some light on things. First, black Americans are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white Americans. Second, a 2019 report showed that “84% of the more than 2,000 marijuana offenders who were federally sentenced in 2018 were people of color”.

So, you can probably see where we are going with this. Looking in from the outside, it would appear as though laws against cannabis have historically worked to oppress and imprison black Americans. If you look at the numbers, what is going on here is quite clear.

It doesn’t make sense that black people make up just over 10% of the population, yet nearly 40% of the prison population, while also accounting for the vast majority of cannabis arrests.

Thus, it’s now these same people, the same people of color that Martin Luther King Jr. fought to free, who are now being unfairly and unlawfully held in prisons for former offenses that are no longer considered illegal.

So, we are dedicating this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day to all those people who are still being held in prisons across the country for old cannabis offenses that aren’t illegal anymore, people who should have been released years ago. Yes, we’re dedicating this time to those illegally imprisoned for old cannabis offenses, but as you can guess, it goes a bit deeper than that.

The simple reality is that although Martin Luther King Jr. changed American history and the course of civil rights forever, the fight is long from over and certainly hasn’t been won yet. What it comes down to is that there is a ridiculous number of black Americans who continue to be unlawfully detained even though their actions were or are in no way illegal.

How to Take Action in Support of MLK – The Last Prisoner Project

This brings us to the most important part of the day: how we can support the people being held in prisons even though they should be enjoying the sweet taste of American freedom. The way to support your fellow Americans is by becoming a part of The Last Prisoner Project.

The Last Prisoner Project is a collective of like-minded individuals that was founded in 2019 with one simple aim: to free those people who remain incarcerated or continue to suffer the collateral consequences of cannabis-related offenses that are now legal.

Using a variety of resources and industry professionals, such as education and policy experts, justice-impacted individuals, and leaders in the world of drug policy and criminal justice reform, the Last Prisoner Projects aims to institute major change on this front.

The goal is to free those still unlawfully imprisoned due to cannabis offenses that were once illegal but are now no longer.

Their efforts in securing the release of those imprisoned for cannabis offenses, providing constituent support, and advocating for policy change resonate deeply with MLK’s vision of justice and equality. By supporting this initiative, we contribute to a world where every individual has the opportunity for a fair future.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for civil rights intersects significantly with the modern cannabis movement. Historical injustices in cannabis-related arrests and sentencing highlight the ongoing struggle for equality. By understanding this context, we appreciate the deeper significance of supporting initiatives like the Last Prisoner Project, aligning with MLK’s ideals of justice and fairness.

Our Appreciation of your Support During MLK Day

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, join MUNCHIES! in honoring a legacy that continues to inspire change.

With our 25% off sitewide offer, use code DREAM25, not only do you enjoy premium cannabis products, but you also support the Last Prisoner Project’s mission. Let’s celebrate MLK’s vision together – a vision of equality, justice, and a better future for all.

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