Meta, parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, has stopped censoring search results related to “marijuana” and “cannabis”. Until recently, anyone trying to access this content was redirected to messages urging them to
A shift in moderation policy
Earlier this year, Meta announced that it would review its approach to topics considered to be of frequent social or political debates, such as immigration or gender. However, censorship on cannabis remained active, which generated widespread rejection from users, public health experts and organizations advocating responsible use.
This situation made the search for cannabis on Meta the epicentre of criticism regarding the platforms’ moderation and transparency.
The measure affected personal accounts as well as public institutions, educational groups and specialized media. Searching for terms such as Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission or Marijuana Policy Project yielded no useful results: only alerts and calls to report possible illegal activities.
Activists and experts welcome the change, but urge caution
Morgan Fox, political director of the organization NORML, expressed hope about the change, but warned about its fragility:
“I trust that this decision is not only temporary or limited. Without a structural review of moderation, we will continue to be exposed to setbacks.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s director Kat Murti described it as a positive step, but reminded that Meta continues to penalize accounts that share information on harm reduction, drug education or legislative changes.
Creators and companies, between self-censorship and digital exile
Cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown has been one of the most affected. His publications, which focused on cannabis policiy, were flagged as illegal sales, limiting the reach of his account. Although he now notices some improvement, he points out that there are still posts that are affected by the algorithm and that many creators in the sector have moved to other platforms after seeing their accounts shut down.
Companies such as Puffco have also spoken out. In a recent campaign, they criticized Instagram’s removal of content related to legal cannabis, which has hindered community building among medical patients, veterans or authorized recreational users.
Genuine relaxation or algorithmic make-up?
Although alerts no longer appear when searching for cannabis-related terms, it is unclear when the change was implemented and whether it is permanent. Meta has not offered any official statements on the matter, which creates uncertainty about the stability of this new phase.
For now, advocates for clear and fair regulation will remain vigilant. They call for greater transparency and an appeals system that prevents algorithmic censorship from limiting access to legal, health or educational information.
A debate that goes beyond Meta
Other platforms have also faced pressures around cannabis content. Apple, for example, has allowed apps such as Eaze to sell legal cannabis in its store since 2021. Google, on the other hand, maintains its ban on apps that link to cannabis services, although it does allow advertising for certain CBD products. Twitter, following Elon Musk’s takeover, eased its restrictions and allows certified businesses to display packaged products.
TikTok, Twitch and other digital platforms continue to adapt their policies, often with unclear or contradictory criteria, such as allowing mentions of alcohol but banning cannabis, even in educational contexts.
Invisible censorship persists
Although the change in the search engine is a step forward, many users suspect that so-called “shadowbanning” is still in effect. The cannabis community is calling for equal treatment compared to other legal industries and demands that access to verified information, public health campaigns or legislative initiatives should not be treated as sensitive content.
As legalisation moves forward in many countries and states, pressure on platforms will continue to grow. Ca
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