‘I’m happy that I’m free:’ Michigan man released from prison after serving 25 years for marijuana case

JACKSON, MI — Michael Thompson was greeted by his daughters and granddaughter, who he has never met, as he stepped out of prison after serving more than 20 years for a crime that is no longer illegal.

Thompson, 69, was released from Charles Egeler Reception And Guidance Center in Jackson at 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 under the veil of darkness on a bitterly cold winter morning.

He hugged his eldest daughter Rashawnda Littles first, then his attorney Kimberly Corral and finally his second daughter Princess Thompson and his granddaughter Armani Jacobs.

Soon after, a roar of celebration from a documentary crew, members of Redemption Foundation, a non-profit that helps support individuals and families disproportionately affected by the war on cannabis, and others in support of Thompson’s release broke the silence of the intimate moment.

“I feel good,” Thompson said as he was overcome with emotion. “Twenty-five years is a long time.”

Thompson was sent to prison to serve a 42- to 62-year sentence after he was convicted in 1996 of selling three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant in December 1994.

Related: Man who served 20 years in marijuana case has sentenced commuted by governor

The Flint native’s sentence was compounded by prior felony convictions, including another drug crime in 1983 and for bringing contraband into a prison in 1986 and the discovery of a gun during the investigation.

He wasn’t going to be eligible for parole until he was 87.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer granted Thompson and three others clemency on Dec. 22.

All of the prisoners who had their sentences commuted were being released from the prison by 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

A commutation reduces an individual’s sentence to a specified term, but it does not nullify the underlying conviction.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel began looking into the case after a prior closed-door meeting with members of the Cannabis Caucus, an advocacy group comprised of marijuana entrepreneurs, patients, growers and lobbyists.

This fall, she sent a letter to Whitmer asking her to exercise her executive power and commute Thompson’s sentence.

As a former prosecutor, Whitmer has said she recognizes how critical it is to take steps toward a smarter and more equitable justice system.

Thompson said he plans to help others who are still incarcerated for charges related to marijuana.

“I just hope somebody who can hear that’s dealing with prison reform can hear me and let them know that a lot of things need to be done because -- those guys are human beings and the way they’re treating them is not good, and hopefully prison reform will help them,” he added.

Littles, 48, said while her father was in prison he mentored other inmates and plans to continue that work as he gets reacclimated to his new life.

Related: ‘I feel like a million bucks’: Daughter of Michigan prisoner granted clemency rejoices

“I’m happy that I’m free, but there’s so much work to be done with prison reform,” Thompson said.

Kimberly Corral, Thompson’s attorney, said the release of Thompson is such a relief, but she added it shouldn’t have taken decades to get him out.

“While we’re celebrating a step in justice for Michael, it shouldn’t take what it took to get him out,” Corral said. “His sentence is egregious by any measure and when you look at the volume of manpower that it’s taken to get this release, it reveals fundamental flaws in the criminal justice system’s ability to correct itself.”

Corral pointed out it took state leaders such as Whitmer and Nessel and 20,000 letters from Michigan residents for Thompson’s sentence to be commuted.

While in prison, Thompson contracted COVID-19 months after advocates filed a clemency petition on his behalf, arguing that his punishment outweighed his crime, especially after Michigan legalized the substance that he was convicted of dealing.

Thompson recounted some tough times when he was incarcerated.

“For the last two months, I have been washing my clothes in the toilet stool,” Thompson said, adding at least he had clean clothes.

Ryan Basore, founder and CEO of Redemption Cannabis and the Redemption Foundation, said the foundation helps to raise money for people coming out of prison and affected by the war on cannabis.

“This is really awesome seeing Michael get out,” Basore said. “I can’t imagine being there for 25 years and not knowing whether you’re going to get or not.”

Basore said $10,000 was raised specifically for Thompson to help him with housing, food, job assistance or whatever he might need for his new journey in life.

“The system is so stacked against people getting out -- people need a lot of the time a little break,” Basore said.

The upcoming plans for Thompson include meeting family members, building relationships, continuing to advocate for others still behind bars and indulging in one of his favorite meals: a fish dinner with cucumbers and tomatoes.

Littles had butterflies as she prepared to see her father, who went to prison when she was just 19 years old and her sister Princess Thompson was just three years old.

The sisters were emotional moments before their father walked out of the prison doors.

Princess’s daughter Armani, 9, met her grandfather for the first time on Thursday. She stayed up until 2 a.m. making a “Welcome Home” sign to greet him.

“I can’t believe this day has come,” Littles said. “I’m grateful and I’m blessed. Because the Lord saw fit, he saw that my dad deserves a second chance.”

Read more on MLive:

Michigan prisoner seeks clemency in marijuana case after serving more than 20 years in prison

Michigan prisoner seeks clemency in marijuana case after serving more than 20 years in prison

Michigan AG ‘horrified’ by Michael Thompson’s 42-to-62 year sentence for 1994 marijuana case

Sick with COVID-19, inmate can’t get out of prison even with AG, prosecutor backing him

Muskegon inmate with coronavirus receives meeting with parole board after AG support

Thompson contacts COVID-19

Thompson receive meeting with Parole Board

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.