FREE LUKE SCARMAZZO

Before Luke Scarmazzo was 63131-097, he was a loving father, son, and brother. He was a successful businessman with a brilliant mind and a bleeding heart. He was an exceptional student, the type of person who would beg his mother to have homeless people over for Thanksgiving dinner, as well as someone who would go out of their way to help a fellow classmate in a wheelchair without giving it a second thought. He gave a new meaning to the word "dad", taking his daughter out to spend quality time despite his legal and personal struggles. A brilliant writer, he became the voice for non-violent drug offenders through beautifully written articles and memoirs. Luke loves football and is avid New York Giants fan. But for the next 8,000 days, he will be 63131-097. Because of unfair and outdated policies of the United States government, Luke's identity has been stripped from him, leaving him to face a lonely existence in a cold, cramped prison cell. He has been away from his family since 2008 after being sentenced to 22 years in prison for running a state legal medical marijuana dispensary in California. Luke's dispensary, California Healthcare Collective, was not breaking any state laws but since the sale, distribution, and manufacture of marijuana is technically still illegal, the Feds gained grounds to raid and shut down his shop. Even though Luke was an honest and compassionate American who paid taxes, on his daughter's fourth birthday in 2006, he was arrested and charged with Conducted a Continuing Criminal Enterprise. This charge was designed to combat drug kingpins and carries a minimum of 20 years in federal prison. Luke's dispensary not only helped countless patients with otherwise debilitating medical conditions, but revolutionized the fields of pain management and medicinal marijuana. Without Luke, thousands of people would not be able to seek relief from medicinal marijuana, including children with severe epilepsy and veterans with incapacitating PTSD. Today, 9 states have fully legalized marijuana and 29 states have implemented medicinal programs. Thus, if he was arrested today, he would likely not face the same fate. It is absolutely unjust that thousands of dispensaries exist today, but Luke, a medical cannabis pioneer, remains in prison. The hearts of his family have been aching since the judge brought down the gavel on May 15, 2008. Life has been completely turned upside down for his daughter, parents, and entire extended family. The absence of Luke's bright spirit and caring smile has been devastating for his family and friends, as there is just simply no one else quite like him. Unfortunately, without the help of our President and the public, Luke will most likely serve his full sentence, leaving him and his family in a dark and hopeless place. My goal through this fundraiser is to not raise awareness for Luke's case and hopefully attract attention of someone who can make a change, but to shed light on how broken and corrupt the US Justice System really is. There are so many stories just like Luke's, with thousands of non-violent drug offenders rotting away in federal prisons all over the country. It is an absolute atrocity that hard-working Americans like Luke are serving such outrageous sentences for victimless crimes, while rapist and murders often can get away scot-free. Non-violent drug offenders, specifically cannabis offenders, should NOT serve such harsh sentences, especially with attitudes about cannabis improving in more recent times. Each shirt will be sold for $20 with all of the proceeds going to his parents for his release fund. Please help FREE LUKE SCARMAZZO and make my family become whole again. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of Luke's supporters and advocates for their continuing and undying support and love. It means the world to my family and I. Together, we have the power to bring Luke home and change the fates of so many others in similar situations. Thank you again. Peace and love, Kaitie Scarmazzo.