Marijuana Inmates: Amy in Arizona Wrote to a Dozen Prison Pen Pals

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy, a cannabis marketing executive in Arizona, felt especially bad for incarcerated men and women. Prison was bad enough; the thought of the pandemic causing so many prisoners to be locked down constantly, not even allowed into the dayroom, was disheartening. In her late 40s at the time, and single, Amy took it upon herself to write to a dozen inmates. "Think of me as the cool aunt," she told some of them, making sure that the connection would stay strictly platonic. Since she worked in the cannabis industry, she was well aware that some Americans have actually been sentenced to life in prison for marijuana offenses, while violent offenders were getting released in a fraction of that time. How unfair, she thought, as she hand-picked some non-violent men (and even some women) who were convicted of a cannabis-related crime and wrote them a letter. Some replied almost immediately. Others never wrote back. In this interview, Amy shares her experience and offers suggestions and helpful tips for women who are still on the fence about whether to write a prisoner. Also in this episode, we put the spotlight on two PenPals.Buzz members, both of whom were convicted of murder. First, you'll learn more about Donzell Lowe from Illinois. Then, Big Steve will talk about Gregory Oliver, incarcerated in New Jersey. Both are serving lengthy sentences and seeking new pen pals and friends to exchange letters and emails with.