Jeff Mizanskey Granted Parole

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - August 10, 2015 - This morning, Jeff Mizanskey was informed by the staff of the Missouri Department of Corrections that his application for parole has been granted. He is expected to be released within the next ten to 25 days. His release could come sooner.

Following a parole hearing last Thursday at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, the Parole Board indicated it might be six to eight weeks before a decision was reached. However, the strong expression of support for Jeff's release by members of the Missouri General Assembly and members of the general public may have accelerated the speed of the decision.

Jeff's attorney, Dan Viets of Columbia, said that he spoke this morning with Jeff's brother Mike Mizanskey of Chicago and his son Chris Mizanskey of Sedalia. Viets said that Jeff's family is thrilled that Jeff will soon be back at home after 21 years of incarceration for non-violent, victimless marijuana law violations.

Jeff was sentenced to serve life without parole under Missouri's "prior and persistent drug offender" law. He has never been convicted of any felony other than relatively small marijuana law violations. He has never even been charged with any act of violence toward any other person.

Missouri NORML and Show-Me Cannabis have worked together to support Jeff's petition for clemency and his application for parole. The original clemency petition was filed by attorney Tony Nenninger of Bourbon. Missouri NORML Coordinator and Show-Me Cannabis Chair Dan Viets represented him in the parole process.

Viets also served on the Missouri Bar Committee which revised the Missouri Criminal Code and recommended to the Missouri General Assembly that the "prior and persistent drug offender" law be repealed. The Missouri General Assembly did so last year. The repeal will become effective in January 2017.

Show-Me Cannabis is an association of organizations and individuals who believe that cannabis prohibition is a failed policy, and that it should be replaced by a system of regulation and taxation similar to the regulation of alcohol. The group seeks to engage Missourians in a serious, public conversation about the negative social consequences of marijuana prohibition and ways in which the regulation and taxation of marijuana could offer benefits in the fields of medicine, industry, public safety, as well as potential benefits for the economy as a whole.