Earlier this year, Meta stated it would shift how it handles controversial topics by loosening certain content rules, particularly around issues frequently debated in politics, such as gender identity and immigration. However, when it came to cannabis, the company continued to censor search results for key terms. Instead of showing related content, users saw alerts asking them to report any drug sales.
The restriction appears to have been lifted, with searches that were previously blocked now delivering actual results and the earlier warnings no longer appear. Though many digital platforms enforce rules against selling drugs and limit who can view substance-related posts, Meta’s actions drew criticism for being too broad and silencing legitimate content meant to educate and inform.
Previously, typing in phrases like “Marijuana Policy Project” or “Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission” on Facebook returned zero results—just a notice encouraging people to flag drug-related posts. That no longer seems to be the case. It’s unclear exactly when the policy was revised.
NORML’s political director Morgan Fox had spoken out about the impact of Meta’s restrictions saying they severely limited how advocates could reach the public. After noticing the shift in search results, he expressed hope that the changes were permanent and wouldn’t just be a short-term adjustment. He also stressed the need for Meta to implement more consistent and transparent moderation systems to avoid repeated censorship of advocacy and educational content.
Kat Murti, who leads Students for Sensible Drug Policy, welcomed the search update but pointed out that issues persist. She mentioned meeting with Meta more than a year ago to highlight concerns, including how the platform’s algorithms were limiting visibility for accounts following the law and supporting public safety.
Meta’s influence in shaping public access to information is massive, Murti said. People turn to these platforms for life-saving advice on overdose prevention, civic engagement, and drug policy reform. Yet much of this content still faces unnecessary censorship, she added.
Illustrator Brian “Box” Brown, a long-time critic of Meta’s policies, said he’s noticed some changes, too. While his posts aren’t getting flagged as frequently, the reach of some cannabis-related content still feels throttled. Brown, who once toned down his own content to avoid penalties, said he now plans to stop self-censoring and see how the platform responds.
Despite growing legalization across states, social media platforms continue to flag and restrict cannabis content, prompting many creators to look for alternative spaces to connect with their audiences.
Any positive adjustments to the policies of major social media platforms are likely to be welcomed by the marijuana industry, including entities like Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) that closely observe what is happening in the U.S.
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