After two decades in prison, Jeff Mizanskey appears headed for freedom before Labor Day.
Columbia lawyer Dan Viets, who represented Mizanskey last week at a state Probation and Parole Board hearing, said in a Monday afternoon news release the board granted Mizanskey's parole request - and he should be released "within the next 10 to 25 days. His release could come sooner."
The Corrections department didn't confirm Mizanskey's release information.
Viets said he spoke with both Mizanskey's brother, Mike, of Chicago, and his son, Chris, Sedalia.
"The family is thrilled that Jeff will soon be back at home after 21 years of incarceration for non-violent, victimless marijuana law violations," Viets reported.
Mizanskey has been serving a life sentence, without parole, after his third felony drug conviction - for a Pettis County charge of possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver or distribute it.
He was sentenced as a "prior and persistent offender."
In May, Gov. Jay Nixon commuted that sentence to life with the possibility of parole.
"My action provides Jeff Mizanskey with the opportunity to demonstrate that he deserves parole," Nixon said last May.
Viets said Mizanskey, now 62, "has never been convicted of any felony other than relatively small marijuana violations (and) has never been charged with any act of violence toward any other person."
Viets credited two groups that he works with - the Missouri affiliate of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), which he serves as a coordinator, and "Show Me Cannabis," which he chairs - for working together to support Mizanskey's petition for clemency and parole application.
Viets also served on the Missouri Bar committee that proposed the state's revised criminal code, including elimination of the "prior and persistent drug offender" law.
The new criminal code goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017.