His mother, his father and his only son died while he was in prison. And recreational marijuana has been legalized in Michigan. Now we’re going to fight to get Michael free. We can do it. We must.

we still need you! TELL Gov. Whitmer: Set Michael Thompson Free

Earlier this year Michael Thompson’s legal team submitted his clemency petition to the Michigan parole board. Over 20,000 of you joined their calls to support Michael's request for release, and your many emails and calls pushed the County Prosecutor, David Leyton to support Michael's clemency petition, stating that Michael's sentence "goes against the interests of justice and fairness."

Additionally, the Michigan Department of Corrections is now facing unprecedented challenges to prisoner health and safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael as a 68 year old with Type 2 diabetes is uniquely vulnerable to life-threatening complications of the virus.

Now, more than ever, we need your help to set Michael free. Don't let a cannabis sentence become a death sentence for Michael. Make your voice heard and FREE MICHAEL THOMPSON NOW!

Send a letter to Governor Whitmer and ask her and the Parole Board to expedite Michael's request for clemency…This is just a template, make your letter unique! →

ABOUT THE CASE

A 68-year-old man named Michael Thompson is serving 60 years in prison for selling weed.

That makes it a life sentence.    

He has never committed a violent act. But he was charged with a violent crime just so he could serve the longest sentence possible. Michael was labeled violent because police found guns at his house, even though in Michigan people can legally and openly carry guns. One was an antique and another was his wife’s gun. He didn’t even have a gun on him when he sold weed to the informant, but he is serving a 60 year sentence because of trumped up charges.

Michael has spent 25 years in prison and during that time he’s had an excellent record. Do you know how hard that is? That’d be like not getting a parking ticket or speeding ticket for 25 years. Or not being late on a bill for 25 years. His guards have spoken publicly on his behalf. Guards from the morning shift. Guards from the night shift. Staff from violence prevention programs. Staff from the school.

In 2018, Michigan voters chose to legalize recreational weed. By the end of 2021 recreational weed is projected to be a $1.5 billion industry in Michigan. But Michael has literally spent almost half of his life in prison for selling weed. It has cost the state of Michigan over a million dollars to keep him there. And it’s one of the single most egregious cases of injustice going on in the entire country right now. For a man to spend his 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond in prison for selling weed is abusive. It’s wrong. It’s unjust.

On January 29, 2020, Michael’s lawyers will be submitting a petition of clemency to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Michael’s last petition was denied without explanation by former Governor Rick Snyder. His lawyers had to wait two years before submitting a new petition. On January 29, it will have been two years, and Michigan has a new governor.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, sworn into office January 1, 2019, is a Democrat. Whitmer won the gubernatorial seat on a progressive platform. After being sworn in, Governor Whitmer publicly said that “for conduct that would now be legal, no one should bear a lifelong record for that conduct”. It’s time for her to put her words into action. By the time Michael’s lawyers submit his new petition for clemency, we want her to know that this isn’t an invisible case. There’s a clear right thing to do.

Every day that Michael is behind bars is an injustice. Governor Whitmer needs to do the right thing and Free Michael Thompson.