Cannabis Prisoner Luke Scarmazzo: 'Don't Give Up. All Things Worthwhile Are Difficult To Achieve'

"I know what it's like to live in a prison cell behind a cannabis offense," says Luke Scarmazzo, who was released from federal prison only a few weeks ago after serving 15 years of a draconian 22-year sentence for operating a medical cannabis dispensary under California's Proposition 215. His release was made possible by years of work by attorneys and passionate advocates, including The Weldon Project and Mission Green, both founded and led by Weldon Angelos.

Scarmazzo, now a partner at Mission Green and brand ambassador of Glass House Brands for the Northern California region, plans to dedicate his energy to advocating on behalf of those serving prison time for nonviolent cannabis convictions in both state and federal prisons and promoting responsible use of cannabis. "I served 15 years in some of America’s worst prisons, so I can speak to all of the things that [it] entails: the loss, the deprivation, and the loneliness, but also the frustration of watching cannabis be monetized by governments and corporations while you’re still sitting in a cage for essentially the same thing," he says.

Scarmazzo's passion for the cause stems from his deep roots in the cannabis community. "I’m from the culture before it was an industry, so I was able to witness the therapeutic and medicinal effects of cannabis from a young age. And those experiences were solidified when I cofounded one of the country’s first licensed medical cannabis dispensaries back in 2004," he shares.

Why Partner With A Cannabis Company?

As the lead brand ambassador for Glass House Brands in NorCal, Scarmazzo aims to promote responsible cannabis use and educate consumers on the benefits of the plant. "People in the community know my story and where I come from, so when I talk about the benefits of cannabis and consuming it responsibly, they know I’m speaking a truth that comes from experience," he explains.

Scarmazzo also stresses the importance of expunging records for nonviolent cannabis offenders to help them reintegrate into the workforce. "Expunging cannabis convictions is essential to formerly incarcerated people trying to reintegrate back into the community and workforce. Having a felony on your record creates so many barriers and collateral consequences that it becomes very difficult to become successful in life," he says.

The activist plans to work with organizations like Mission Green to forge partnerships with lawmakers at the state and federal levels to help convince them of the importance of releasing people incarcerated for cannabis and expunging records. Additionally, Scarmazzo hopes to work with leaders in the cannabis industry and several other industries to facilitate jobs and training for people coming home from prison.

In fact, Scarmazzo has an important message for those still struggling to find their way after incarceration: "To my brothers and sisters who are still struggling with the challenges of coming home and finding a job and your path: Don’t give up. I know it’s hard and can be discouraging, I’ve been there, but all things worthwhile are difficult to achieve. Keep grinding. And know, we are working hard to remove the obstacles to your success and there are people here to support your journey."

Weldon Comes Into Play

The Weldon Project and Mission Green, founded by Weldon Angelos, have been working together to secure the release of nonviolent drug offenders and help them reintegrate into society. The team has cultivated relationships with the White House and other government agencies and officials to secure clemencies for those serving federal prison time for cannabis.

"Since we launched in 2018, we’ve helped hundreds of individuals reunite with their families," says Angelos. The organization also helps secure meaningful employment for released individuals and provides vital resources for successful re-entry.

"Once an individual is out, we work with various companies in the cannabis industry to secure meaningful employment. We also supply those leaving prison with the necessary information regarding expungements, pardons, healthcare, and other much-needed resources that are vital to successful re-entry," Angelos voices.

Corporate Support

According to Kyle Kazan, chairman and CEO of Glass House Brands and a board member of Mission Green, many of the largest cannabis companies have agreed to join Glass House in doing a regular "round-up" at their cash registers for the benefit of Mission Green.

He emphasizes the need for President Biden to pardon all those with cannabis felonies to give them a clean slate. "At GHB, we look at nonviolent cannabis felonies as a plus in that the person has cannabis experience. In other words, what is a gating issue to many companies is a positive to us," Kazan says.

And he adds, “One of GHB’s 5 core values is: to do the right thing (make mom proud). We try to live up to that in fighting for the release of those in prison for cannabis, making sure that we respect the environment (we grow our cannabis in an environmentally conscious manner) through our business practices. We also participate in beach clean-ups and other events and bring a plant that we believe makes the world a better place to people who are in pain. As an example, we work with senior communities to educate them on plant medicine.”

The partnership between Glass House Brands, Mission Green, and Luke Scarmazzo aims to raise awareness about the need for criminal justice reform and create positive change within the cannabis industry. As Kazan puts it, "Most importantly, the partnership with Luke is a win/win as he re-entered the cannabis industry in which he was a leader and quickly gained employment after his long-overdue release. For GHB, we get a knowledgeable team member who will make the company better."

And Angelos confirms this: "Glass House has been one of our most dedicated partners in this space. In addition to helping fund certain projects, Glass House has partnered with us on our cannabis clemency initiative, which provides legal services for those seeking to file for presidential clemency."

With the combined efforts of Scarmazzo, Glass House Brands and Mission Green, there is hope for a future where nonviolent cannabis offenders are given the opportunity to reintegrate into society and contribute to the growing cannabis industry in a meaningful way. Stay tuned for more developments on the issue.

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This article was originally published on Forbes and appears here with permission.