Musk's Twitter Allows 'Marijuana Ads'... First US Social Media Platform

Allowing Brand and Product Promotion by Cannabis Sellers
"An Opportunity to Normalize the Cannabis Industry," Industry Welcomes
Facebook and TikTok Ban... Analysis of Other Advertisers' Backlash

If you use Twitter in the United States, you might see 'cannabis advertisements.' This comes as Twitter, led by Elon Musk, has decided to allow cannabis ads.

According to major foreign media including the AP News on the 15th (local time), Twitter announced through its website that it will change its advertising policy to allow cannabis sellers to promote their brands and products in the U.S. This is the first among social networking service (SNS) companies in the U.S.

Elon Musk smoking marijuana on a podcast in September 2018 [Photo by YouTube capture·Yonhap News]

Previously, Twitter only allowed limited advertising for cannabidiol (CBD) topical products extracted from hemp (a type of cannabis used in the medical industry). CBD, which does not contain psychoactive components, is classified as a health supplement overseas.

However, with this new policy, the scope of allowed advertisements has expanded to include recreational cannabis and cannabis-related products legalized at the state level in the U.S. Currently, 21 states, the capital Washington D.C., and the U.S. territory Guam have legalized recreational cannabis use for those aged 21 and over.

Cannabis sellers quickly responded and started advertising on Twitter. Gina Collins, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the seller Trulieve, began advertising on Twitter that day and stated, "Being recognized by a global SNS platform will be a step forward in normalizing the cannabis industry in the U.S."

Limited Advertising Allowed... Facebook and TikTok Maintain Ban

However, Twitter set conditions such as ▲advertisers must obtain approval from relevant authorities and prior approval from Twitter, ▲advertising is only allowed in regions where it is authorized by authorities, ▲advertising cannot target customers under 21 years old, ▲claims about health benefits of cannabis are prohibited, and ▲depictions of cannabis use in advertisements are not allowed.

Meanwhile, other SNS companies like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok still maintain policies banning cannabis-related advertisements in accordance with U.S. federal law prohibiting recreational cannabis sales. The U.S. political media outlet Politico reported, "They are also considering that allowing cannabis company ads might make existing advertisers uncomfortable with their ads appearing alongside cannabis ads."

On a related note, Musk sparked controversy in 2018 when he appeared on a live podcast, stating, "I am not a marijuana smoker," but then unexpectedly smoked a joint handed to him by the host.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.