Apple Joins Amazon in Supporting Cannabis Services and Apps
Last year, Amazon announced that it would stop testing its employees for THC and would also end the blocking of apps and content related to cannabis on its platforms. With this move, Amazon became the first major tech giant to step away from the total ban on any information about marijuana—a policy that many services from Facebook and Google still officially uphold.
Now, just a few months later, Apple has joined Amazon in the fight against censorship of cannabis-related information. The company recently updated its user agreements, formally confirming its willingness to work with services and apps that serve the legal cannabis market and provide the public with up-to-date information on the safe and responsible use of the plant and related products.
Industry Experts Praise Apple’s Decision
“Without a doubt, this is a very smart move by Apple,” says Ader Lion, director of the analytics agency Artis Intel. “Given the company’s share of the U.S. mobile device market, it’s safe to say that almost a third of the country’s population suddenly gained access to services and information that were previously out of reach due to internal censorship. Apple and its app store stand to gain tremendously from entering this market.”
“Moreover, I’m confident that Apple’s actions will have a very positive effect on public perception of marijuana and will further increase support for its legalization among the population,” Lion adds. “It’s also important to note that Apple’s example will attract not only everyday users to cannabis, but also other large international companies. I believe that since two key players in the IT services market—one of which is the largest company in the world—have decided to work with cannabis, other corporations will follow their lead and begin supporting legalization rather than prohibition. With this kind of support, especially the financial resources of such organizations, activists will have no trouble creating a strong lobby in favor of bold, nationwide cannabis reforms.”