At least a handful of medical marijuana dispensaries in Tucson realized their Facebook pages had been deleted today by the social media site, according to the Daily Haze. Facebook claims they banned the pages because the company does not allow any material that “condones drug use.”
The Haze spoke to Tucson’s Earth’s Healing‘s marketing director, Florence Hijazi:
Florence, from Earth’s Healing, said it damages the business, as their patients do check the centers Facebook page every day for different specials and other updates from the center. In response to being deleted by Facebook, Earth’s Healing plans to put more focus towards their Twitter account and their phone app.
The move isn’t exclusive to Tucson—there were pages deleted around the country, and dispensary owners seemed to be getting the same justification from Facebook, the Haze says.
“Your page is currently not visible on Facebook. It looks like content on your page does not follow the Facebook Community Terms and Standards.”
“The site does not allow ads that promote the sale or use of . . .illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs.”
The trend began back in 2014, when Instagram “heavily” deleted marijuana-themed accounts.
The Haze says that in January 2014, Tim Rathschmidt, a spokesperson for Facebook, told the Huffington Post:
“The legality around the sale and use of marijuana greatly varies around the world, which is part of the reason why we strictly prohibit the promotion of the sale and use of the drug itself. The risk of attempting to allow ads promoting the drug in certain states or countries where it is legal is too high for us to consider at this time. However, we work pretty hard to differentiate ads promoting the sale or use of the drug versus ads promoting advocacy or the legalization of the drug. The latter is the type of content we do not want to censor through ads, and is widely considered different than something promoting the actual drug itself.”
And, last year the San Francisco Chronicle reported that medical marijuana businesses were banned from iTunes, Facebook, as well as Instagram.
The SF Chronicle received a statement from a spokesperson for Facebook and Instagram that read, “guidelines do not allow the promotion of the sale of illegal content. Once something is reported to us our teams review it, will remove it if it violations those policies, and in some cases we will disable the account.”
But, medical marijuana is legal in 23 states, as well as D.C., so why is Facebook using that card to ban dispensaries that are obviously located in states where medicinal weed is allowed? In fact, Facebook’s home state, California, could even legalize recreational marijuana this year.
We’ll keep you updated as we hear more about the situation.
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2016.
This is just more complete reefer madness nonsense! Facebook continues to support pages for all the big pharmaceutical companies even though pharmaceutical drugs are directly responsible for over 250,000 deaths every year and are clearly the gateway to heroin addiction! Send Zuckerberg and Facebook a message today, flag as many big pharma FB pages or ads as you can as inappropriate and block. Stop the lies and legalize!
Marijuana use is illegal via Federal Statute. Facebook’s action was consistent with Federal Law.
Congress should amend the Controlled Substances Act of 1970: Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (21 U.S.C. § 811) making Marijuana available for Medical Treatment. Its’ use for Medical purpose should be supported by Scientific evidence, including Clinical Trials, and regulated by the FDA; closely monitored by the tending Physician and State Department of Health.
“Medical Marijuana” should be available by Prescription only (in a Pharmacy) issued by a Licensed Physician.
You miss the POINT Francis, lets get with the times already.
@hello you’re the one who missed the point hahahaha when you come to terms that no matter if the state deems marijuana legal its still illegal under federal law.
All the old stoners I knew going back over 40 years all wish they had never touched the stuff, especially the ones who reside now in Florence. There’s a few I know who checked out early and took up permanent “digs” at Holy Hope, they REALLY wished they had never touched the stuff.
Not from marijuana they didn’t!
Even as an advocate their are times when myself and other activists are blocked. Even when there are no “sales” or even talk of “sales” involved. Some call it “algorithms”. Most call it censorship. Period.
Why do you people still have Facebook?
Zuckerberg is more than happy to sell ALL of your information while cooperating with all government agencies. Anything you ever post there is THEIRS FOREVER. ALL your pictures and posts for eternity.
But delete the weed pages, and boy oh boy, Facebook is suddenly the worst.
This was supposed to happen in 1984. So I believe we have been lucky so far. I live in Allentown Pa and I do not forsee legalization in any format medicinal or recreational. How long has Facebook MySpace instagram twitter you name it been around, better yet computers? ???
Time to get their own ‘server’ Don’t need Face Book.
We need to be informed about our MEDICINE. We use your Social Network to communicate about it and stay informed with up to date information that allows us to LIVE LONGER AND BETTER LIVES. If that is against your policy, then maybe FACEBOOK SHOULD CHANGE THEIR POLICY, SEEING AS THEY WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE WORLD ALREADY. Facebook is a super power platform, I hope they come to their senses and help the sick and dying, instead of rolling over for THE MAN.
Article VI of the US Constitution: (Second Paragraph)
“………This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding…..”