Type in “cannabis” into Facebook search, and all the pages with cannabis in their name (Cannabis Nurses Network, Cannabis News Now, Cannabis TV) are removed from results:
Cannabis groups and videos are still returning results, making this appear to be specifically targeting public organizations and advocacy groups that include the word “Cannabis” in their name as this screenshot below shows the difference in results:
So, as of September 2018, Facebook pages are the only ones that have been removed from cannabis search results.
Read more about Facebook’s issues with cannabis and free speech here from Leafly back in 2016 below.
https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/facebook-has-a-cannabis-problem-that-community-standards-dont-solve:
Praise Is Risky
“We also remove content that expresses support or praise for groups, leaders, or individuals involved in these activities,” the guidebook explains.
Again, it’s hard to know how to interpret that when it comes to cannabis. If a customer gives a shout-out to the budtenders at The Farm in Boulder, will they come under scrutiny for praising individuals involved in what’s still technically a federal crime? Facebook doesn’t say.
Also problematic: “We also do not allow people to depict criminal activity or admit to crimes they or their associates have committed,” says the guidebook.
On the other hand, Facebook does “allow people to debate or advocate for the legality of criminal activities, as well as address them in a rhetorical or satirical way.”
Hopefully other blogs will pick up on this if they haven’t already. Follow WeedPress HERE on Facebook for any updates on cannabis pages being censored from Facebook search results elsewhere in the media.
UPDATE: Facebook comments on this story:
· Reply · Commented on by Jason Karimi · 19m
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