Twitter now allows cannabis companies to advertise

Twitter is the first major social media platform to ease restrictions on ads for cannabis, which is still an illegal substance on the federal level

Twitter quietly rolled out its latest major policy change under new owner Elon Musk this week, becoming the first major social media platform to allow the advertising of cannabis products in the U.S.

The company updated its drugs and paraphernalia policies Tuesday, permitting cannabis companies pre-authorized by Twitter to advertise where they are licensed to promote their products online. 

Twitter app

Twitter has changed updated its policies to allow cannabis companies to advertise on the platform with restrictions. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File / AP Newsroom)

There are, however, several restrictions. 

ELON MUSK DECLARES CANCEL CULTURE OVER SINCE TWITTER TAKEOVER: ‘YOU WON’T BE MISSED'

Ads for cannabis and CBD must not be targeted toward minors, so the use of characters or celebrities that may appeal to youngsters are prohibited. Any landing pages in the links must also be "age-gated," and any sales are required to verify a customer's age.

A man tags young cannabis plants in Missouri

Jeremy Baldwin tags young cannabis plants at a marijuana farm operated by Greenlight, Oct. 31, 2022, in Grandview, Mo.  ((AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) / AP Newsroom)

Twitter ads for cannabis-related products are further prohibited from showing pregnant women as models, making any claims of health benefits, depicting someone using or under the influence of the products, or transporting such goods across state lines.

POTENTIALLY TAINTED MARIJUANA PULLED FROM VERMONT STORES

The cannabis industry is booming in the U.S., as dozens of states have legalized or decriminalized use of the substance in varying degrees. But marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, complicating the logistics of allowing its advertising on a nationwide platform.

Elon Musk Twitter

Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk has not commented so far on the company's new policy allowing cannabis companies to advertise. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

That makes Twitter's move noteworthy, but Musk – who is known to tweet the occasional "420" and famously smoked weed with Joe Rogan as a guest on the podcaster's show – has so far been mum on the new policy.