Google Ads launched a limited pilot program in Canada allowing federally licensed cannabis businesses to advertise cannabis-related products or services on Google Search. The pilot was announced on August 20, started August 25, and will run for 20 days. Only federally licensed Canadian cannabis operators are eligible. Google stated the pilot aims to "explore user interest and inform potential future policy updates." The move marks a shift from previous restrictions that barred cannabis advertising, though Google previously eased rules to permit CBD product ads in specific U.S. jurisdictions. Other platforms vary in their policies.
Google Ads announced on August 20 the launch of a limited pilot program in Canada, allowing licensed businesses to advertise their cannabis-related product types or services. Therefore, for the first time, Canadian licensed cannabis businesses have the opportunity to display their ads on Google Search, which will appear on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs). The pilot program, first reported by StratCann on August 22, started yesterday, August 25, and it will last 20 days.
Only federally licensed cannabis operators in Canada are eligible to participate. According to Google, the aim of this pilot is "explore user interest and inform potential future policy updates." The move represents a significant shift for Google's policy on cannabis advertising, which currently restricts businesses from advertising cannabis-related products or services, although it has loosened restrictions for certain products in recent years.
In 2023, Twitter became the first social media platform to allow cannabis business to advertise their products in the United States, while before it only allowed advertising hemp-derived CBD topical products. Other social media, however, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok, continue to prohibit businesses from advertising their cannabis products on their online platforms, but allow the marketing of CBD-related
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