You can order just about anything through apps on your phone — including weed. Now, Google is changing its policies to stop that from happening.
The change can be found in the company’s updated Google Play policies.
“We don’t allow apps that facilitate the sale of marijuana or marijuana products, regardless of legality,” the new rule states.
It seems Google won’t be making any exceptions, even for places where weed is legal.
Some “common violations” that Google identifies include letting people order marijuana through an in-app shopping cart feature, arranging the delivery or pick up of marijuana, and selling products with THC.
A spokesperson told Gizmodo that apps have 30 days after launching to comply with the new policy. If violated, Google will only require the removal of the in-app shopping cart feature.
It’s not clear just how strict Google plans to be about these rules or why the change even came about. The company has been on a mission to make the Google Play store more suitable for children, but this ban may be overkill.
For the company, it makes sense to ban the sale of weed in areas where it’s not legal. However, ten states have legalized recreational and medicinal marijuana — including California — where Google is based.
Besides, a 2018 poll from Pew Research Center confirmed Americans are steadily changing their minds about marijuana. The poll found that 62 percent of Americans, including 74 percent of millennials, supported legalizing marijuana.
This ban isn’t going to stop people from using their phones to get marijuana, of course. Android users will still be able to download apps from elsewhere. However, with the cannabis industry booming, this is a weird move on Google’s part.
