Sunday 31 August 2014

Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates)

Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 12:43 PM

Please advise why Leafly and Weedmaps are permitted to advertise on Adsense/Adwords and rank well as aggregates in Google Search Results?

Whereas, the small company that provides the same services that Leafly and Weedmaps as a conglomerate, provide and advertise for — but are NOT permitted to advertise.


Thus – Google is creating a monopolization of advertising within the cannabis industry.


Please do not call into discussion or response “illegal drug” – in rulings, because in that case, Leafly and Weedmaps fall into that category, yet are permitted to advertise.


If you have any questions as to this a fully detailed request is posted in G+ at this location:


https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MekiCox/posts/dSsxAPZCVtR


Please read it before responding.




Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
MyNight
8/31/14 12:55 PM

Intriguing question :).

I would suggest since adsense policies severely limit the way sites can discuss drugs be it legal or illegal there will be a minute amount of advertising space available to such advertisers.


Whilst being in the UK my knowledge of these companies is somewhat limited, a quick google suggests they are the big fish in a fairly large pond.


It may be the case of limiting the amount of advertisers in this area until the experiment of how to place ads/qualify sites to show the ads(ie it is still illegal in many countries) is over. Since they are the “biggest” it makes sense to work with them first as they’re much more likely to be the biggest earners for google long term.


I’m sure the time will come but there are probably a few hurdles before its widespread availability.




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 1:06 PM

Precisely.

My issue is this:


In the cannabis industry (marijuana, pot, medical marijuana, hemp, weed, ganja, etc.) there are several factions of business.


1) State legal dispensaries that are brick and mortar.
2) Delivery Companies that are state legal that deliver directly to patients
3) Collectives that do the above
4) Patient Collectives that do the above
5) Educators
6) Legal Departments
7) Advocates
8) Advertisers
9) Newsgroups
10) Scientists and Research and Development
11) Laboratory Analysis companies
12) Political groups
13) Counselilng
14) Regulatory Groups


and so on.


It is a full fledged industry. And it is becoming more and more “legalized” (why it was ever illegal is a question for another discussion – and the lack of education of the American population on cannabis is astounding based on passed down propaganda  (ie the US govt states “no medical value” yet the US Govt has a patent on medical application… hmmm go figure)


This question is that the aggregates – which are valuable – advertise for the same thing – and are permitted.


I created this post on G+ to attract everyone – but I want ADSENSE – ADWORDS – etc to answer this..


I have several groups coming to me – with their attorneys ready – but I want ADSENSE and GOOGLE and ADWORDS to have the opportunity to discuss – and give the answers – prior to allowing them to go into a class action against Google – based on these answers.


It’s allowing Leafly and Weedmaps to create a monopoly in the advertising portion of this industry – because it effectively keeps everyone else out.


Big Fish or not (they are awesome companies) – it is unfair in regards to the companies that are not being permitted the same capability to reach such a wide audience.


With geolocation capability – there is no excuse.




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
Gracey
8/31/14 1:40 PM

AdSense won’t answer it. If you’re that big on getting an answer, take them to court.

Ask at AdWords why they allow them to advertise.


I see no point in reading your G+ post when there is nothing that can be done in this forum anyways.




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
Cade
8/31/14 1:48 PM

You’re kidding, right? Representatives from Adsense or Adwords are going to respond on a forum?

“I have several groups coming to me – with their attorneys ready”…Gee, how many times have we seen this one, guys?




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 1:58 PM

I’m  shocked at both of your responses.

I clearly stated – I have people coming to me for answers — I don’t have them. I want those answers.
I want to know what the guidelines are.
I need to be able to provide them.


And you are the very people who instead of commenting your opinion – should be helping others to find those answers.


That is what this forum is for – right?


Or is it only for your opinion on specific topics?




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 2:01 PM

And why wouldn’t they respond?

Are they not permitted to do so?


And yes – these groups are coming to me – they are clients – they want answers. They want fairness.




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
MyNight
8/31/14 2:02 PM

They are both right though. Whilst it may be their opinion its fact adsense/google staff rarely if ever respond to topics here regardless of the topic.

To be honest I rolled my eyes before my first post upon reading the class action suit bit. I’d say at least twice a week someone is threatening legal action and 9/10 its an unjustified attempt at a threat.




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
Gracey
8/31/14 2:04 PM



And you are the very people who instead of commenting your opinion – should be helping others to find those answers.



I didn’t give my opinion. This forum cannot answer the question. Have your lawyers contact their lawyers.


Adsense policies have given their (current) official statement and there is nothing more we can say beyond that.



Drugs






AcceptableNot acceptable

  • Sites that sell herbal plants that can be used as hallucinogens, but are not promoting them for their drug-related uses

  • Note: These plants are legal to purchase as long as they are NOT eaten, brewed, or smoked

  • Sites that sell over-the-counter drugs

  • Informational sites about prescription drugs

  • Sites providing information on Ephedra


  • Sales or promotion of illegal drugs and illegal drug paraphernalia

  • Note: Drugs illegal in the US are unacceptable even if legal elsewhere

  • Information or products for passing drug tests

  • Sales of prescription drugs, even if through an affiliate programs

  • Sites that primarily drive traffic to online drugstores/pharmacies

  • Sites that sell Ephedra or alternatives to Ephedra, such as Ephedrine




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
Gracey
8/31/14 2:05 PM

Adsense staff don’t attend the forums. These are PEER forums – in other words, just other publishers.



Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 2:16 PM

Thank you MyNight – I appreciate that as an honest response.

However, I’d still like to believe that there may be valuable information provided by the publishers – maybe they know someone… Maybe they know a way to find out the answers… maybe they have opinions that will help…


Maybe this is a good discussion..


All of those things dictate the fairness of being heard, seen and responded to – as a part of the process in getting information to people within the cannabis industry.


They are asking – and to be “shot down” or treated inappropriately – or told – GO GET AN ATTORNEY — is ludicrous… The right to ask for info – the right to be treated fairly – is inherent in a forum that is maintained within the Google Framework (regardless if actual Google employees read it and respond, or not)




Re: Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates) to advertise on ADWORDS and GOOGLE – but not permitting other companies within medical marijuana industry to do so.
LyricalQuestion
8/31/14 2:19 PM

Alright – I get your drift Gracey – so tell me – short of creating a lawsuit – you’re saying there is no way to legitimately ask for – and garner guidelines for fairness of the cannabis industry?

Then why are these forums here in the first place?


If you can’t get help on them – then what value have they?
If you can’t get answers on them that are specific for you or your industry – what is the worth?
If you can’t get someone to answer a question – or pass it up to those who can – what real value is this place?




Source



Legal reason for allowing LEAFLY and WEEDMAPS (cannabis aggregates)

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