Drugs and drug paraphernalia

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This policy applies to monetization on X and X’s paid advertising products.

What's the policy?

X prohibits the promotion of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Examples of drugs and drug paraphernalia include:

  • Herbal drugs
  • Accessories associated with drug use
  • Drug dispensaries
  • Depictions of hard drug use

How does this policy vary from country to country?

This is a global prohibition, except for the country specific exemptions below. Advertisers must obtain pre-approval to run Drug and Drug Paraphernalia ads by first getting certified.

Canada

We permit approved cannabis advertisers to target Canada, subject to the following restrictions:

  • Advertisers must be licensed by Health Canada.
  • Advertisers may only promote informational or brand-preference content.
  • Advertisers may only target jurisdictions in which they are licensed to promote these products or services online. For example, advertisers may not promote such content online in Quebec or to Quebec residents.
  • Advertisers are responsible for complying with all laws and regulations. In general, advertisers are prohibited from promoting cannabis content:
    • by communicating information about cannabis price or distribution;
    • by doing so in a manner that there are reasonable grounds to believe could be appealing to young persons (anyone under 18);
    • by means of testimonial or endorsement, however displayed or communicated;
    • by means of depiction of a person, character or animal, whether real or fictional; or
    • by presenting cannabis or any of its brand elements in a manner that associates it or the brand element with, or evokes a positive or negative emotion about or image of, a way of life such as one that includes glamour, recreation, excitement, vitality, risk or daring.

Contact X if you are interested in this option.

Thailand

We permit approved cannabis advertisers to target Thailand, subject to the following restrictions:

  • Advertisers must be licensed by the appropriate authorities.
  • Advertisers may promote:
    • Cannabis cosmetic products licensed by the Thai Food and Drug Administration
    • Cannabis food and beverages licensed by the Thai Food and Drugs Administration
    • Cannabis supplements and herbal products licensed by the Thai Food and Drug Administration
    • Cannabis dispensaries licensed by the Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health.
  • Advertisers may not:
    • Target customers under the age of 21.
    • Use creatives which feature the recreational or public use of cannabis.
    • Advertise products which contain cannabis imported from overseas.
    • Advertise the sale of cannabis flowers, inflorescence, resin and oleoresin.
    • Advertise products which contain cannabis extracts exceeding 0.2% THC by weight.
  • Advertisers are responsible for complying with all laws and regulations and inserting the necessary warnings and disclosures prescribed by the law.
  • Contact X if you are interested in this option.

United States

We permit approved Cannabis (including CBD– cannabinoids) advertisers to target the United States, subject to the following restrictions:

  • Advertisers must be licensed by the appropriate authorities.
  • Advertisers may only target jurisdictions in which they are licensed to promote these products or services online.
  • Advertisers may not promote or offer the sale of Cannabis (including CBD– cannabinoids)
    • Exception: Ads for topical (non-ingestible) hemp-derived CBD topical products containing equal to or less than the 0.3% THC government-set threshold.       
  • Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and advertising guidelines.
  • Advertisers may not target customers under the age of 21.

Any advertisement for Cannabis (including CBD– cannabinoids) content that is allowed, subject to the above restrictions, must in addition:

  • Not appeal to minors in the creative, and landing pages must be age gated and sales must be age verified.
  • Not use characters, sports-persons, celebrities, or images/icons appealing to minors. 
  • Not use minors or pregnant women as models in advertising. 
  • Not make claims of efficacy or health benefits.
  • Not make false/misleading claims.
  • Not show depiction of cannabis product use.
  • Not depict people using, under the influence, or images of consumption
  • Not encourage transport across state lines.

Contact X if you are interested in this option.

What other X resources relate to this policy?

Prohibited content for minors

What do advertisers need to know about this policy?

Review our guidelines and make sure you understand the requirements for your brand and business. You are responsible for all your promoted content on X. This includes complying with applicable laws and regulations regarding advertisements.

If you are an advertiser whose account or Posts are under review and you would like to check on the status or request an expedited review, please log in to ads.x.com and file a support ticket using the Help button in the top right corner of your ads dashboard.

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