The Attica Prison Riot was a significant event in American history and prompted reflection on the flaws of the prison system. Angela Davis, a staunch prison abolitionist, writes in her book ‘Are Prisons Obsolete?’ argued that legalizing marijuana could reduce prison populations by reducing marijuana-related incarcerations, ultimately contributing to partial prison abolition.
Inspired by this perspective and New York’s 2021 initiative to issue dispensary licenses to people incarcerated for marijuana crimes, the project proposes converting the Attica prison into a marijuana farm and tasting center. Key fragments of the prison, particularly those vital to the riot, will be retained and repurposed.
Visitors will go through a long corridor and not only see the cannabis production process but also learn about the history of Attica Riot while walk through the reserved prison buildings. At the tasting center, they can taste locally grown and other cannabis strains using collective glass tubes. The facility will employ former marijuana offenders, provide them with jobs and training in marijuana cultivation, and help them obtain employment opportunities in the booming marijuana industry.
