My name is Deedee Kirkwood. I am a 74 year old mother, grandmother and housewife living with my husband in
Camarillo, about an hour north of Los Angeles where I grew up. I am lucky enough to have a son and daughter who
live close by with their families.

As far back as I can remember, I've had a very strong inner voice that let me know there was something inside me

that needed to come out. I didn't have a clue what it was so I began experimenting with different forms of self-
expression. By my 20s, with no obvious artistic talents being revealed, I started writing. I wasn't a natural at putting

scattered thoughts into flowing words but nonetheless I became a determined writer with my life's experiences

taking center stage. There were years of writing I wanted to give up completely, but giving up on my work-in-
progress would have meant giving up on my higher self, in a spiritual sense.

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In 2003, a neighbor encouraged me to bring my words to life on stage. Without a budget, plan or experience, I
rented a theater in West Hollywood, hired a director and crossed my fingers that my stage play PEACE FOR POT
would be presentable, even though I knew in my heart that the ending was not yet the real ending. Luckily, I got
some good reviews including a thumb's up from High Times which was enough of a positive response, along with
my irrepressible internal drive, to keep me going.

Then in 2011, a friend encouraged me to put my play on in Berkeley, this time with a name change to TOKE. Once
again without a budget, plan or having learned from experience, I rented a small theater and hired a director. But as fate had it, just as the director started directing in Northern California, my mother fell ill in Southern California where I needed to remain until after her funeral. Consequently, I saw my play for the first time the night before opening night and without my knowledge or permission, the trusted director changed the ending to one she felt was more 'politically in sync with Berkeley', which despite my initial freak out and bruised ego, actually furthered my soulful journey to connect with the real ending. Luckily, I got a good review from a San Francisco newspaper. On closing night, someone suggested I put on my play in the state's capital.  

I had never been to Sacramento before, but in the summer 2012, with a cousin's couch to call home, I rented a cheap theater and hired a director. The theater was cheap because there was no air conditioning with triple digit temperatures inside and out. There were barely enough actors available to fill the roles and barely an audience willing to withstand the heat. But the show went on with thanks to random activists I met at an Americans for Safe Access meeting I attended to advertise my play and hand out free posters. One member I met offered to host an afternoon tea in her apartment with like minded individuals.

To my devastation, several of these individuals in attendance were victims of the drug war with court cases pending
for cannabis only, non-violent related offenses, some involving separation from their children. I had no idea how
bad it was. Hearing their horrific testimonials first hand was shocking and triggered that something inside me with
rage. The pain and suffering our laws were bringing to plant prisoners and their families had to stop!
 

My heart instantly went out to these men and women, especially when I learned there are over 50 cannabis
prisoners currently serving LIFE SENTENCES. In response, that something inside me was replaced with a
passionate activism directed toward shedding light on this dirty little secret of incarcerating human beings for the
rest of their lives for a miracle plant that is now legal in many states. It's hard for the public to get outraged over an
issue when they are not even aware of it, so I came up with my own campaign called 31 Aprons for 31 Pot Lifers,
sewing Pot Fairy aprons to raise money to put on the prisoner's commissary accounts for necessities like soap,
combs, toothbrushes, phone calls home, postage stamps, emails and palatable water.  Eventually I made necklaces and purses too. A cannabis offense should NOT equal a life sentence! I have finally identified my higher calling. Free the Pot Lifers! They thank you for your donation!

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Love & peace,

deedee kirkwood