Weldon Angelos, Founder of REEFORM and Cannabis Reform Activist – Interview Series

Despite the American cannabis industry recently surpassing $30 billion a year, there’s still a large number of tragic cases where otherwise law-abiding citizens are serving sentences involving cannabis, which many would view as absurdly cruel and unusual. One such individual is REEFORM Founder Weldon Angelos, who was originally given a 55-year federal prison sentence for, ultimately, a couple of hundred dollars worth of cannabis. From producing music with some of West Coast hip hop’s most beloved legends to federal prison and then to receiving a full and unconditional pardon from President Trump, the story of Mr. Angelos is a true roller coaster and could easily be turned into a movie.

What were your first experiences with cannabis like?

My first experience with cannabis came after Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg released The Chronic. That album didn’t just change hip-hop—it changed culture, and it definitely had a big influence on me. Cannabis became part of the vibe and lifestyle that the music captured. That whole movement inspired me to get into music myself, and from there, the rest was history.

How did you venture into music production, and who are some of your main influences?

I grew up listening to hip hop starting in the late 80s. But Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records and later Tupac Shakur were the biggest influence on my life for me wanting to get into the music industry. I started out in production and got into song writing and executive producing as well.

Who were some of the artists you had the pleasure of working with when producing music? I remember you saying the very beloved Snoop Dogg was a frequent collaborator.

Snoop Dogg was probably the most memorable artist I worked closely on multiple projects. He was very welcoming and was the reason I landed a record deal. He treated me like he knew me for years.

What situations and actions led to your arrest and conviction, and why were those charges unjust at best and outright fabricated or unreliable at worst?

I was selling cannabis on the side to help with bills until my music ventures stabilized and was consistent. But due to my involvement with major rap artists, the federal government and local authorities took an interest in me and sent an informant to investigate. He purchased roughly $300 worth of cannabis on three occasions. They were hoping that it would lead to a major bust involving west coast rappers. When they learned that was not going to happen, they through the book at me and coached the informant to make up additional charges such as the belated allegation that the informant observed a firearm during the three cannabis sales, even though he never reported it at the time nor did any officer—other than the informant’s handler—have any knowledge of these belated and suspect allegations. Surveillance photos also showed that there was not a firearm present. But the mere allegation resulted in the 55-year sentence I received.

Because mandatory minimum sentencing is a majorly widespread criminal justice issue that extends far beyond just cannabis-related offenses, how did mandatory minimum sentencing worsen your conviction and subsequent sentence?

Because authorities wanted to maximize the pressure on me, hoping that would lead to the arrest of someone famous, they had the informant “remember” seeing a firearm during the marijuana sales which triggers a statute known as 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c). Under this statute, the first charge is a 5-year mandatory minimum and each additional charge under this provision is a mandatory 25 years in prison. I was convicted on 3 of 5 of those charges resulting in the mandatory 55-year prison term. Thankfully, we were able to change that law when I got out under the First Step Act.

On both a legal and personal level, how would you describe the process of getting an absurd 55-year federal sentence reduced?

It felt like getting punched in the gut. There isn’t a way to describe it. I felt numb and confused how this could happen in America. And not just because the gun allegations weren’t true, but because even if they were, it was a simple, peaceful, and consensual cannabis transaction and so I couldn’t understand how I went from a dream come true to staring into the face of an effective life sentence.

Who was involved in the campaign for your release? It sounds like some influential people were in your corner, and a strongly bipartisan political effort as well. As someone who’s reported on cannabis law and politics for a while now, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Snoop Dogg and Charles Koch in agreement about something, much less something cannabis related.

We call the group unlikely allies since there were so many people you would never see working together like Alice Keys and Mike Lee, Snoop Dogg and Charles Koch, Bonnie Raitt and Rand Paul, Mike Epps and Orrin Hatch plus dozens of former government officials from both parties. It was such an impressive group that I worked with them when I got out to pass the First Step Act.

How were those first few years after being released, and what led to the creation of the REEFORM brand? What do you hope to represent and accomplish with this brand?

The first few years after my release were a mix of rebuilding and finding purpose. I was grateful to be free, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the people I left behind—many of them still serving long sentences for cannabis. That’s what led to the creation of REEFORM. It’s more than just a cannabis brand—it’s a movement that represents second chances, justice reform, and equity. Our goal is to uplift those who were impacted by the War on Drugs by creating opportunities, building awareness, and using the cannabis space to fund clemency and reentry efforts. REEFORM is about making sure people like me don’t get left behind again.

What is the documentary Unlikely Allies about and what went into the production of it? It was incredibly well done and the interviews were incredibly crucial to your triumphant story.

Unlikely Allies tells the story of my journey from music to prison to presidential pardon, and how such a diverse group of people came together to fight for my freedom. You had Snoop Dogg working with Senators like Mike Lee and Cory Booker, and even people from both the Obama and Trump administrations backing my release. The production took several years—we pulled from unreleased footage of my time in the industry, interviews with everyone from celebrities to presidents, and behind-the-scenes meetings in D.C. It’s a raw look at the power of coalition building and what happens when politics are set aside for justice.

What are some future plans you have with yourself and the REEFORM brand? As cannabis expands into new states every couple of years and with a federal rescheduling reform possibly on the horizon, how does REEFORM plan on continuing their message and efforts with these expansions?

With REEFORM, we’re focused on scaling with purpose. As cannabis becomes more mainstream, we want to be a national voice for the people who were harmed by prohibition. That means expanding our products into new states, yes—but always tying it back to justice. For every market we enter, we plan to fund clemency work, reentry support, and local equity initiatives. Whether it’s through retail, policy, or storytelling, REEFORM will continue to be a platform for justice and change.

As someone who President Trump fully and unconditionally pardoned at the end of his first term, do you believe that he’ll issue similar pardons for those who were or are still in a similarly unjust situation that you were?

President Trump recently appointed my friend Alice Johnson as the Pardon Czar. He committed to granting cases that she recommends. So, between Alice and President Trump, I do believe we will see more clemencies for people with cannabis convictions. I was hoping Biden would have pardoned most of them but didn’t really help that group. On the campaign trail, Trump said that it is awful to have people in jail for cannabis when it’s legal in so many states, and Alice understands the hypocrisy of keeping people in prison for cannabis so I believe we will see a lot of action around cannabis clemency.

Thank you for joining us, Weldon! For more information on the REEFORM brand, please follow its website.