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Man Released From Missouri Prison Urges Marijuana Reform

The administration building is one of the oldest on the prison site. Its decaying façade sits opposite a recently-opened federal courthouse across the street.
Samantha Sunne
/
KBIA
The administration building is one of the oldest on the prison site. Its decaying façade sits opposite a recently-opened federal courthouse across the street.

A man who was recently freed from a Missouri prison serving a life sentence on a marijuana-related charge wants supporters to help change marijuana laws.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports Jeff Mizanskey, 62, spoke at a chapter meeting of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws yesterday to push the issue of reform.

He also said Missourians should urge lawmakers to change the criminal justice system and limit the number of non-violent people in prison.

Mizanskey was released last month after spending about two decades in prison. He was sentenced to life in 1994, but Governor Nixon changed Mizanskey's sentence to life with the possibility of parole in May.

Before his release, many supporters lobbied for years arguing the sentence was too tough.

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