RESOLUTION NO. 230361

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Sponsor: Councilmember Eric Bunch

RESOLUTION - Recognizing and establishing 4/20 Donte West Cannabis Justice Day in Kansas City, Missouri.

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WHEREAS, Donte West was sentenced to 7 years 8 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute in Kansas and convicted in 2017 for distributing a pound of marijuana; and

WHEREAS, while incarcerated he fought to reunite with his younger siblings that were in the foster care system in California, which he was the sole provider for prior to incarceration; and

WHEREAS, Donte filed for executive clemency urging the governor to commute his sentence to a time that was recognized through courts around the state; and

WHEREAS, Donte gained support from Kansas Senators and State Representatives after he wrote all 165 of them asking to support a sentence reduction; and

WHEREAS, Donte's motion to overturn his conviction and vacate his sentence was granted releasing him from custody 3 years into his prison term, pending a new trial; and

WHEREAS, Donte, now released and his case since dismissed, is working with criminal justice organizations such as Last Prisoner Project and the White House on clemency and policy initiatives to help other incarcerated cannabis offenders on the State and Federal levels; and

WHEREAS, Donte has focused on re-entry due to the majority of released prisoners' limited employment, especially in the cannabis community because of parole and probation; and

WHEREAS, while giving back to his community, Donte has seen success in securing the release of cannabis prisoners in the region through executive clemency; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize 4/20 Donte West Cannabis Justice Day; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented...

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