Google eases (some) restrictions on hemp and cannabis advertising

For now, it will be an experience that will boil down to California, Colorado and Puerto Rico, and that will consist of an easing of restrictions on the promotion of products containing CBD with low levels of THC. According to Forbes, Google Ads announced the update of its policies.

This is a first and small step by the technological giant Google towards making its advertising service, Google Ads, available to companies in the cannabis sector. The pilot project, still restricted, will remove some cannabis-based products from the list of products prohibited by the conditions of use of the platform.

The companies have to comply with some rules, both geographic, given that the project will only take place in California, Colorado and Puerto Rico, and in terms of the required specifications. According to the news from Forbes, Google Ads itself announced in its own blog that “on January 20, 2023, Google Ads’ policies on dangerous products and services and health and medicines will be updated to allow the promotion of pharmaceutical products approved by Forbes. FDA containing cannabidiol (CBD) and topical hemp-derived CBD products with a THC content of 0,3% or less in the states of California, Colorado and Puerto Rico.”