The legal cannabis industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with a significant increase in legal cannabis use for medicinal and recreational purposes across the country. However, despite the legal standing of the industry, Instagram continues to suppress and delete accounts and content related to cannabis. This suppression of content posted by legally operating businesses and content creators within the cannabis industry creates an unfair playing field for smaller businesses and hinders their ability to compete with larger corporations.
Outdated Policies in the Cannabis Industry
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, it is imperative that Instagram adopt more transparent policies that properly reflect the current legal standings across the country. The current policies related to cannabis on the platform are outdated and no longer applicable to the current state of the industry. The industry as a whole is more than willing to operate within any properly outlayed policies and would be willing to aid Instagram in their regulatory processes.
Equal Opportunity for Small Businesses within the Cannabis Industry
The suppression and deletion of cannabis-related content on Instagram unfairly disadvantages small businesses that operate within the industry. Instagram must recognize that the cannabis industry has the potential to be a profitable and successful market for small businesses owned by a diverse collective of individuals. However, without fair and equal marketing opportunities, the industry will be dominated by larger corporations, creating an unfair monopoly within the market.
The Petition by WeedTube
WeedTube, a video-sharing platform for the cannabis community, has recently started a petition on Change.org urging Instagram to treat cannabis companies and pages fairly. The petition emphasizes the need for fair and equal opportunity for legally operating businesses and content creators within the cannabis industry on the platform.
The Goal of the Petition
The goal of the petition on Change.org is to receive 1,000,000 signatures urging Instagram leadership to join a roundtable discussion with experts in the cannabis industry to update their policies and regulations around legal cannabis content. The industry as a whole supports the petition and emphasizes the need for fair and equal opportunities for legally operating businesses and content creators within the cannabis industry on the platform.
The Responsibility of Instagram in the Cannabis Industry
As the legalization of cannabis continues to expand across the country, Instagram must take responsibility for its role in the success of the industry. By failing to provide fair and equal opportunities for legally operating businesses and content creators within the cannabis industry, the platform risks creating an unfair monopoly that could hinder the success of smaller businesses. Instagram must update its policies and regulations to reflect the current legal standings of the industry and promote transparency for its users.
