Google and Meta (the owner of Facebook and Instagram), as well as other leading technology and social media companies have unjustly included cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), in their list of prohibited content and have banned the advertisement of these products through their platforms. 

With Digital 2022: Global Overview Report, a flagship report on digital trends, estimating that over 4.6 billion people use social media, these bans are limiting the ability of CBG and CBD companies to raise awareness about their brands and advertise their products which in turn affects their sales. 

Additionally, these bans are limiting people’s access to verified information, making it more difficult for customers to make informed purchasing decisions. As the dominant players in the market, we believe that leading technology and social media companies such as Google and Meta are well placed to play a positive role in tackling misinformation by revising their current broad-brush approach, as allowing information from legitimate companies to appear on their platforms will serve to improve the quality of the information around CBG and CBD online – to the ultimate benefit of consumers.

Cannabidiol and cannabigerol are non-addictive and non-psychoactive, which means that they don’t cause a high, compounds found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. According to a growing body of scientific evidence, CBD can help reduce stress, regulate mood and aid sleep. Additionally, CBG products have been found to contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that qualify them as ingredients with immense potential for skincare solutions designed to prevent the signs of aging.

There is an immense global appetite for CBG and CBD-based products, with Vantage Market Research estimating that the global CBD market will reach around $47 billion by 2028, up from $4.9 billion in 2021. The growth of the global market has been driven by a number of countries that have, in the last few years, not only differentiated CBG and CBD from cannabis, but have also decided to enable the sale of these products both online and on the high street.  

The advertising policies of these leading technology and social media companies haven’t caught up with the increased consumer appetite for CBG and CBD in key markets within Europe and in some states in the US. Being the dominant global players, it’s easier for Google and Meta to just have a ‘one size fits all’ policy across all markets, effectively taking the most conservative view as a default position and applying this with a broad brush globally despite the relevant laws in each geography.

This blanket approach to regulation is, however, reinforcing misconceptions about CBG and CBD, and limiting marketing and sales opportunities for legitimate businesses. And more importantly, it’s depriving customers of one of the most exciting wellness ingredients of our time, which in turn undermines these companies’ commitment to place their customers at the centre of their business model.

As a group of wellness champions, advocates, and brands, we have organised this initiative to raise awareness on the unjust policies around the marketing and sale of CBG and CBD-based products on Google, Facebook and Instagram. We also invite leading technology and social media companies to take an active role in tackling misinformation around these ingredients by removing the restrictions which are inhibiting people’s access to verified information, while also limiting the opportunities for legitimate businesses to advertise and sell their products.

The CBG and CBD Brands Coalition is a group of advocates, champions and brands supporting this petition. Members of the coalition include Cellular Goods, Chanelle McCoy Health, Apothem Labs, Clearly Brands, Voyager Life, Kloris, Daye and CiiTech.