‘If We Had X Back Then’: Former Inmate, Cannabis Advocate Discusses Social Media’s Role In Weed Reform
Luke Scarmazzo shared with the audience Wednesday at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference his personal experience with law enforcement and cannabis — and how social media could have made a difference.
“If we had the power of X back in 2006 when I was raided and arrested for operating a state-legal dispensary, it could have changed the trajectory of our case and the entire industry,” Scarmazzo said at the event in Hollywood, Florida.
His powerful opening marked a compelling discussion during the panel titled “A Candid Conversation With X: Cannabis And Social Media.” Scarmazzo’s journey from incarceration to advocacy underscores the transformative role of X (formerly known as Twitter) in amplifying voices in the cannabis sector once stifled by legal and societal boundaries.
Alongside Scarmazzo was Alexa Alianello of X’s Sales and Partnerships, touting her role as the unofficial “chief weed officer,” highlighting X’s significant strides over the past year.
“X is home to over half a billion of the world’s most influential and …