Michael Thompson is the longest serving non-violent offender in the history of Michigan and he is finally up for clemenc | dG1fT2RCbk9vVWZOTTQ
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00:00The Michigan Parole Board is in session to conduct a public hearing on the application
00:08for commutation of sentence of Michael Thompson, number 176309.
00:11Hey, what's up, man?
00:12How about that?
00:13How many more interviews ahead of me?
00:24Michael Thompson sold three pounds of marijuana in the 90s.
00:29He was sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison.
00:32Thompson is considered the longest incarcerated non-violent offender in Michigan's history.
00:37The parole board has an opportunity to send his case to Governor Whitmer for clemency.
00:42I'm going to say a prayer for him, because this is his last try.
00:48If they don't let him go this time, it's over.
00:52In parole boards in other states, people answer the phone.
00:54You can talk to members of the board, you can talk to their secretaries.
00:57It's just bizarre to me that no one's responsive to us.
01:00It makes me mad as hell.
01:04My father sitting behind the bars, put marijuana on everybody around Michigan, freely smoking.
01:09The cannabis industry is projected to hit $24 billion in legal sales this year.
01:15There are more arrests for marijuana possession than violent crime every year in the U.S.
01:20Black men in particular have become the war's primary casualties.
01:24When is someone going to finally hit the crack?
01:29Enough is enough.
01:33It's a boy!
01:34Oh my God, I knew it!
01:36I knew it!
01:38I'm so proud.
01:40My days turned into weeks.
01:43My weeks turned into months.
01:45It's like, when am I going to see my father again?
01:49Every day that you be in here, what do you have to think about?
01:53Your family.
01:54Happy birthday to you.
01:59I love you, Daddy.
02:00I love you too, baby.
02:01And I know you're going to be out soon.
02:03I'm urging the parole board, please release this man so he can spend the rest of his life
02:09getting a chance to know his family.
02:12This man does not deserve to die in a prison cell.