I was a true believer, he says. I was always just appalled that people were going to jail for cannabis, and I knew we were being lied to about the War on Drugs.

Basore worked with local authorities, including police and county prosecutors, to make sure he was doing everything above board. He was relieved when the Obama administration said it wouldnt prosecute marijuana crimes in states where it was legalized.

But marijuana was and remains illegal at the federal level. In late 2010, Basores grow operations were raided by the DEA, state police, and the National Guard. It was actual helicopters and troops, and guys with smoke bombs, he says. All for our 72-plant marijuana grow.

Basore was devastated. His partners, including his future father-in-law and brother-in-law, were also indicted. I spent everything I had fighting it, he says. In 2014, Basore pleaded guilty and was sent to a federal correctional facility in West Virginia.

But he wasnt going to let prison ruin his life. I just looked at it from the day I walked in, that this is either going to affect my life in one of two ways. Its either going to destroy me, or Im going to use it to make myself better and use this intense situation and come out stronger.

He devoted himself to working out and lost 70 pounds, and read classic literature. He also taught himself how to build websites, so hed have a new skill when he got out. He wound up getting released after two-and-a-half years for good behavior.

Prison taught me how to play long games, he says. Real long games.

And when he got out, he knew he wanted to get right back into the cannabis industry.

I just watched so many good people just have their rights absolutely trampled, he says. Watching that happen and just watching what it did to people, including myself and my family it just kind of changed me.

When he got released, Basore was sent to a halfway house in Kalamazoo. One of the things I learned there is what it takes when you get out. It was so hard to get back on my feet. I was lucky to have great friends and family.

Since getting released, Basore has devoted himself entirely to cannabis rights and the cannabis industry, starting his own marketing and consulting company for cannabis clients. In 2018, he worked with both MILegalizes campaign to legalize recreational cannabis use, as well as the campaign for Attorney General Dana Nessel. When voters passed Proposal 1, Basore was elated.

That was like walking into a new world, he says.

Basores world changed even more in 2020, when one of his consulting clients, Gage Cannabis Co., awarded him a $50,000 grant as part of a social equity program to help those harmed by the War on Drugs. The grant allowed Basore to launch Redemption Cannabis, which sends 10 percent of all proceeds to helping others harmed by the War on Drugs, including job skills training programs, prisoner re-entry initiatives, expungement clinics, and more. The companys first product is its Diamonds concentrate, sold in Gage stores.

Inspired by Basores story, a number of stores including Pharmhouse Wellness in Grand Rapids, The Botanical Co. in Tawas, and Om of Medicine in Ann Arbor are offering a 10 percent discount to customers convicted of marijuana-related felonies and a 5 percent discount to those convicted of marijuana-related misdemeanors.

And a lot of these guys and women Ive known for 10 years or more, Basore says. A lot of them are people that helped us legalize, people that have been doing this and been in the trenches with me.

And thats just the beginning. Basore is also working to establish a cannabis consumption lounge in Kalkaska think of it as a coffeehouse for pot, like those in Amsterdam and a new podcast, The Smoking Rope Podcast, where Basore interviews people in Michigans cannabis industry.

I thought 2020 was going to be my year off, he says. But Michigan theres no place I would rather be. Its like my little utopia that weve helped build. I had a little part in helping create what I wanted to see.

Theres still a long way to go. Basore says he will continue to pressure officials like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to expunge all cannabis-related crimes. Hes also glad to see the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality raise more awareness about the War on Drugs.

Selling cannabis legally and criminal justice reform are my two passions, he says. And I get to do both.

You can learn more about Redemption Cannabis at redemptioncanna.com.

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The War on Drugs didnt stop Redemptions Ryan Basore from working in the cannabis industry it only made him more determined - Detroit Metro Times