Elevated Roots partners with the Last Prisoner Project, addressing the unfinished business of cannabis legalization
Walk into a modern cannabis dispensary today and you’ll find lab-tested products, trained staff, and a regulated retail environment built on transparency and consumer safety. It’s a visible marker of how far cannabis policy has evolved. What remains far less visible is that many people are still incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses from the prohibition era — even as legal cannabis sales continue to expand nationwide.
This disconnect sits at the heart of today’s cannabis justice conversation: while the industry has moved forward, the consequences of past enforcement have not been fully addressed.
The Legalization Justice Gap
Legalization alone did not resolve the harms created by decades of prohibition. Sentencing disparities, outdated statutes, and uneven reform processes have left thousands of individuals and families impacted by convictions tied to conduct that is no longer illegal. Advocates often refer to this disparity as the “legalization justice gap” — the space between lawful cannabis commerce today and the continued punishment of legacy offenses.
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) was founded to close that gap. A national nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform, LPP focuses on legal advocacy, sentence review support, clemency and release efforts, policy reform, and reentry services for people impacted by cannabis prohibition. Beyond advocacy, the organization provides direct constituent services, helping individuals navigate complex legal systems, prepare for reentry, and rebuild stability for themselves and their families.
Their mission is clear: legalization should not leave people behind.
Industry Responsibility in a Post-Prohibition Market
For Elevated Roots, a Massachusetts-based cannabis retailer and cultivator operating dispensaries on Boston’s South Shore, engaging in reform work is not positioned as charity — but as responsibility.
The company views restorative justice as an ethical obligation of operating in a legal cannabis marketplace, recognizing that today’s regulated industry exists alongside unresolved human consequences from prior enforcement eras. Through a dedicated fundraising initiative, Elevated Roots is directing proceeds from select cannabis sales to support the Last Prisoner Project’s ongoing legal advocacy and reentry efforts. The campaign is designed to raise both awareness and funds, connecting consumers directly to the broader realities of cannabis justice reform. For the month of February, Elevated Roots’ brand Nostalgia™ will donate $5.00 of each pre-roll purchase to support the cause.
By leveraging its retail platform to support national reform work, Elevated Roots is helping translate cannabis commerce into tangible social impact.
A Shared Commitment to Community
This collaboration reflects a core principle shared by both organizations: the cannabis community has always been more than a marketplace. It is also a culture shaped by advocacy, resilience, and mutual support.
Legal cannabis businesses now represent one of the fastest-evolving regulated retail sectors in the country, yet many operators continue to define success beyond sales figures — measuring impact through accountability, equity, and contribution to repair.
By partnering with the Last Prisoner Project, Elevated Roots aligns its business practices with a broader movement to ensure that legalization delivers meaningful justice, not just economic opportunity.
Looking Forward
As the cannabis industry matures, partnerships like this represent a growing shift in how companies engage with the plant’s past and future. Supporting reform efforts acknowledges that legalization is not complete until its benefits are shared more equitably — and until those harmed by prohibition have access to relief, restoration, and opportunity.
In today’s legal era, progress is no longer just about what is sold — but about what is repaired.
About Elevated Roots
Elevated Roots is a Massachusetts-based cannabis company committed to education, community empowerment, and an elevated retail experience. Operating three licensed adult-use dispensaries in Abington, Halifax, and Kingston —Elevated Roots is known for its knowledgeable and welcoming team, wide-ranging product selection, and thoughtfully curated in-house cannabis brands, Nostalgia and Ritual, cultivated by the company’s own cultivation team based in Kingston. Through immersive retail experiences, community engagement and educational initiatives, Elevated Roots works to destigmatize cannabis and promote responsible consumption in an inclusive environment.
Learn more about Elevated Roots at elevatedrootsma.com, and visit its three dispensary locations in Abington at 1423 Bedford St., daily from 9 am to 9 pm; in Kingston at 44 William C. Gould Jr. Way, daily from 9 am to 9 pm; and in Halifax at 319 Monponsett St., daily from 8 am to 8 pm. For the latest information, follow Elevated Roots on Facebook and Instagram.
