Despite Meta’s Sweeping Policy Updates, Cannabis-Related Content Remains Heavily Restricted
Meta’s recent overhaul of its content moderation policies—designed to expand free expression—has left one controversial restriction unchanged: marijuana-related content remains hidden from search results on Facebook and Instagram.
Despite Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of policy shifts that loosen restrictions on political discourse and controversial topics like immigration and gender identity, the company continues to block searches for terms such as “marijuana” and “cannabis.” Instead, users are met with a notice urging them to report “the sale of drugs.”
Meta’s changes also include moving away from third-party fact-checking in favor of a community-driven moderation system, which the company says will reduce unnecessary censorship.
“We will allow more speech by lifting restrictions on some topics that are part of mainstream discourse,” Meta stated, adding that enforcement would focus on “illegal and high-severity violations.”
However, cannabis advocates—including medical marijuana patients, content creators, news organizations, and even government agencies—say they have long faced unwarranted suppression on Meta’s platforms. Searches for legitimate organizations like the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission or the Marijuana Policy Project still yield no results.
While many platforms regulate drug-related content, critics argue that Meta’s approach disproportionately affects educational, advocacy, and public health discussions about cannabis—even when they focus on legal markets and policy reform. Despite the company’s push for greater free expression, its stance on marijuana remains a glaring exception.
