EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk's Twitter Acquisition Opened Up The Cannabis Floodgates

Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter heralded a new era in the cannabis space, with the platform emerging as the only one where cannabis brands and advocates can speak freely without algorithmic repercussions.

Alexa Alianiello, who works in sales and partnerships at X (formerly Twitter), shared some valuable insights about the company's recent initiatives and approach towards cannabis at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference last week.

“We are the only platform right now where you can come to actively talk about cannabis in a free space,” remarked Alianiello. “So many people come to the platform to learn what’s happening in cannabis and seek diverse perspectives.”

The Tesla Inc CEO who took the company private late last year has repeatedly put an emphasis on fostering open conversation — Alianiello said that freedom helps to reflect the shifts in legislative frameworks that are influenced by discussions on the platform.

Unlike its competitors, X has been instrumental in pioneering cannabis advertisements.

Platforms like Meta Platform Inc's Instagram and Facebook currently prohibit cannabis advertising, with Alianiello attributing the differentiation to the unique corporate responsibilities of each platform. “Every company and every platform has different levels of responsibility to different entities,” she explained.

The acquisition last November gave X a fresh impetus to innovate and open up opportunities in the cannabis space that were previously untouched.

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Alianiello, who has been with X for over a decade and has witnessed its evolution — particularly post-acquisition — spoke on the company's collaboration with the industry. “We actively speak to hundreds of brands all the time — people who are responsible for shifting the social and political frameworks,” she shared.

She also teased more updates on the horizon for X’s advertising policies. “We’re going to have even more updates to come very, very soon on what will be available in terms of featuring products within advertisements,” she revealed.

For now, X is a beacon for cannabis brands and advocates, offering a platform to showcase products and share the cannabis experience without constraint.

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