Meta’s Cannabis Ad Policies: Facebook vs. Instagram

Facebook and Instagram have different rules for cannabis ads:

Platform	Key Points
Facebook	• Allows some CBD ads in US • Requires LegitScript certification • Bans THC product ads
Instagram	• Stricter on CBD content • Needs 50,000+ followers • Requires lab tests for CBD products

Both platforms:

Ban selling cannabis or promoting drug use
Require following local laws
Prohibit ads for under-18s

Tips for advertisers:

Focus on education and brand awareness
Avoid showing products or making health claims
Stay updated on policy changes

Challenges include strict rules and changing policies. Benefits include large user bases and targeted advertising options.

As cannabis laws evolve, Meta may update its policies to allow more types of cannabis ads in the future.

2. Cannabis Advertising Rules

2.1 Laws and Regulations

Cannabis ads face strict rules because cannabis is illegal at the federal level in the US. Even though many states allow cannabis use, advertising on social media is tricky. Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, have their own rules for cannabis ads.

Level	Status	Impact on Advertising
Federal	Illegal	No interstate ads allowed
State	Varies	Some states allow ads, others don’t

This mix of laws makes it hard for cannabis businesses to advertise online.

2.2 Meta‘s Overall Policy

Meta doesn’t allow ads for illegal drugs on its platforms. However, they do allow some cannabis-related ads:

Product	Allowed?	Requirements
CBD (US only)	Yes	– LegitScript certification – Written permission from Meta
Non-edible hemp	Yes	– Only in US, Canada, and Mexico
Cannabis	No	Not allowed

Meta tries to balance following the law and allowing some cannabis-related ads. They know cannabis laws are changing, but they still keep strict rules about what can be advertised.

3. Facebook’s Cannabis Ad Rules

3.1 Allowed Content and Ads

Facebook allows some CBD ads in the US, but with strict rules:

Allowed	Requirements
Non-edible CBD products	– Follow local laws – No health claims – LegitScript certified – Written permission from Meta

3.2 Banned Content and Products

Facebook doesn’t allow ads for:

Banned Items
THC products
Cannabis with psychoactive parts
Drug tools (bongs, papers, vapes)
Illegal or recreational drugs

3.3 Age and Targeting Limits

Facebook sets limits on who can see cannabis ads:

Limit Type	Details
Age	No ads for minors
Location	Only target areas where cannabis is legal

3.4 Getting Approval

To run cannabis ads on Facebook:

1. Follow Meta’s rules 2. Get LegitScript certified for CBD products 3. Get written okay from Meta 4. Make sure ads don’t break Facebook’s policies

Doing these things helps avoid ad rejections or account problems.

4. Instagram’s Cannabis Ad Rules

4.1 Allowed Content and Ad Types

Instagram lets users post some cannabis-related content:

Allowed Content	Details
Educational posts	Information about cannabis
Advocacy posts	Supporting changes to cannabis laws
FDA-approved products	Therapeutic cannabis products
Hemp-derived CBD	Products without THC

To advertise on Instagram:

Follow all platform rules
Have a social media manager who knows Instagram’s CBD ad rules

4.2 Banned Content and Products

Instagram doesn’t allow:

Banned Content	Examples
Cannabis product sales	Selling or promoting cannabis
Pictures of cannabis	Images of marijuana plants or products
Drug use promotion	Encouraging recreational drug use
Personal drug use	Talking about using drugs (except recovery stories)

4.3 Age and Audience Limits

Instagram has rules about who can see cannabis ads:

No ads for people under 18
Ads must follow local laws

4.4 Getting Permission

To run cannabis ads on Instagram, you need:

Requirement	Details
Account age	At least 1 year old
Followers	50,000 or more
Profile	Follows Instagram’s rules
Product testing	Independent lab results for THC, CBD, and contaminants

Keep lab results for your records to follow Instagram’s CBD rules.

5. Comparing Facebook and Instagram Policies

5.1 What’s the Same

Facebook and Instagram have many similar rules for cannabis ads:

No ads for selling cannabis or using drugs
Ads must follow local laws
No ads for people under 18

5.2 What’s Different

Facebook and Instagram have some different rules:

Facebook	Instagram
Allows more posts about CBD benefits	Stricter about CBD content
No follower count needed	Needs 50,000+ followers
No product testing required	Needs lab tests for CBD products
More detailed rules on cannabis products	Focuses mainly on CBD rules

5.3 Policy Comparison Table

Policy	Facebook	Instagram
Allowed Content	CBD info, law change support, FDA-approved items	Same as Facebook
Not Allowed	Selling cannabis, promoting drug use	Same as Facebook, plus no cannabis pictures
Age Rules	No ads for under 18	Same as Facebook
Product Tests	Not needed	Must have lab results
Followers	No minimum	At least 50,000
Account Rules	Follow Facebook’s rules	Follow Instagram’s rules, account 1+ year old

This table shows the main differences between Facebook and Instagram’s cannabis ad rules.

6. How Policies are Enforced

6.1 Facebook’s Enforcement

Facebook strictly enforces its cannabis ad policies. Here’s what advertisers need to know:

Aspect	Details
Review Process	Moderators check ads against guidelines
Policy Violations	Ads promoting illegal drugs or misusing prescription drugs are not allowed
Consequences	Ad removal, account disabling, or account banning

To avoid issues, cannabis businesses should:

Read Facebook’s ad policies carefully
Avoid promoting recreational drug use
Use appropriate language and images

6.2 Instagram’s Enforcement

Instagram follows Meta’s ad policies but is stricter, especially for CBD content:

Feature	Instagram’s Approach
Content Review	Moderators check posts and ads against community guidelines
Visual Content	Extra careful about images of cannabis products
CBD Rules	More restrictive than Facebook

Cannabis advertisers on Instagram should:

Focus on education, not product promotion
Avoid posting pictures of cannabis
Be careful with language about drug use

6.3 Breaking the Rules

Not following the rules can lead to serious problems:

Consequence	Impact on Business
Ad Removal	Loss of reach and potential customers
Account Disabling	Temporary loss of advertising ability
Account Ban	Permanent loss of platform access
Revenue Loss	Decreased sales and brand awareness

Cannabis businesses must take these policies seriously to keep their accounts active and continue advertising on these platforms.

7. Tips for Following Ad Rules

7.1 Facebook Ad Tips

When making cannabis ads on Facebook, focus on teaching and building your brand. Don’t promote drug use or make health claims. Share helpful info, like easy-to-read pictures or interesting articles about your brand’s good work.

Follow these Facebook rules:

Do	Don’t
Share helpful info	Show products for sale
Build brand awareness	Post pictures of products
Follow Facebook’s rules	Make health claims
Watch for rule changes	Promote drug use

Also, keep an eye on what’s posted on your page, especially if someone else makes your content.

7.2 Instagram Ad Tips

On Instagram, teach people and build a community. Share info that follows the rules and gets people interested. Don’t post pictures of cannabis. Instead, show how your brand fits into people’s lives.

To do well on Instagram:

Do	Don’t
Teach people	Show cannabis products
Build a community	Use words about drug use
Use relevant hashtags	Break Instagram’s rules
Talk with your followers	Post about selling products

7.3 Do’s and Don’ts

Here’s a quick list of what to do and not do for cannabis ads on Facebook and Instagram:

Platform	Do	Don’t
Facebook	• Teach people • Share helpful info • Follow the rules	• Show products for sale • Post product pictures • Make health claims
Instagram	• Build a community • Show brand lifestyle • Talk with followers	• Post cannabis pictures • Use drug-related words • Break community rules

8. Problems and Possibilities

8.1 Facebook Challenges

Facebook’s strict rules make it hard for cannabis advertisers. Here are the main issues:

Challenge	Description
No drug promotion	Can’t directly promote cannabis products
No health claims	Can’t say cannabis helps with health issues
Changing rules	Facebook often updates its policies

To deal with these challenges, advertisers need to:

Focus on teaching people about cannabis
Build brand awareness without showing products
Stay updated on Facebook’s rules

8.2 Instagram Challenges

Instagram has its own set of problems for cannabis advertisers:

Challenge	Description
Visual limits	Can’t show pictures of cannabis or related items
Strict guidelines	Rules are even tighter than Facebook’s
User content	Hard to control what followers post about your brand

To overcome these issues, advertisers should:

Find new ways to show their brand without cannabis images
Be careful about what they post and what others post on their page
Use Instagram’s features creatively to build a community

8.3 Potential Benefits

Even with these challenges, Facebook and Instagram can help cannabis businesses:

Platform	Benefits
Facebook	– Large user base – Targeted ads – Reach specific groups
Instagram	– Visual storytelling – Work with influencers – Build brand image

By following the rules and being smart about their approach, cannabis advertisers can use these platforms to:

Reach more people
Build trust with customers
Grow their business online

The key is to understand each platform’s rules and find ways to work within them while still getting your message across.

9. What’s Next for Cannabis Ads

As cannabis laws change, Facebook and Instagram’s ad rules might also change. Let’s look at what might happen next.

9.1 Possible Policy Updates

Meta (the company that owns Facebook and Instagram) might make its cannabis ad rules less strict. Here’s what could happen:

Possible Changes	What It Means
Allow THC product ads	Businesses could advertise THC in legal states
Change age rules	Younger people might see cannabis ads
Add new tools	Help businesses follow the rules more easily

By knowing about these possible changes, cannabis businesses can be ready to use them.

9.2 How New Laws Might Change Things

New laws about cannabis could make Meta change its ad rules. Here’s how:

If This Happens	Meta Might Do This
Federal government makes cannabis legal	Allow more types of cannabis ads
States make stricter rules	Change policies to match new laws

Cannabis businesses should:

Keep up with new laws
Be ready to change how they advertise
Make sure they follow Meta’s rules

10. Wrap-up

Facebook and Instagram have different rules for cannabis ads, even though Meta owns both. Here’s a quick look at the main differences:

Platform	Ad Rules
Facebook	Stricter, only allows hemp and CBD ads
Instagram	More open, allows more types of cannabis ads

When choosing where to advertise cannabis:

Think about who you want to reach
Check what kind of ads you can make
Make sure you follow the rules

By understanding these differences, cannabis businesses can:

Reach the right people
Follow Meta’s rules
Use Facebook and Instagram effectively