As you have seen in the group research, 26 prisons are closing, and up until now, the economy of rural towns of New York has relied heavily on these prisons. 

The diagrams show its relationship in detail. Prisons, which are mostly located out of New York City, are partially funded by New York City taxes. These prisons incarcerate prisoners from the city and require the local residents to run them. Thus, this creates prison related jobs for the residents of the rural areas these prisons inhabit. Because these prisons also bring in visitors of its incarcerated people, these prisons then generate business for the local economy, even outside of the prison walls.

The towns rely on prisons for both jobs and for local business, which are funded by taxes. Now the prisons are closing, what can replace this vicious cycle of the prison system?

Replacing the exploitative prison system of rural New York, the cannabis campus, which consists of a retrofitted farm, tourism laboratory, and sensuous dispensary will transform the relationship between the economic driver and its related actors into a less extractive, more sustainable, and fun system.