Apple has made a huge move towards a more mainstream cannabis-friendly approach recently. Apple has also made a decision to revise its policies regarding applications that allow for cannabis use. This is a huge change from a year ago, when Apple removed all applications that allowed for cannabis use from the App Store.
Following up on their recent decision to block a number of educational and research apps, including the Marijuana.com app, Apple has now updated its app guidelines to prohibit all cannabis-related apps. And that’s not all: there’s also a new warning that states the company “does not tolerate violations of its policies related to unacceptable content.”
Apps on phones and other devices play a big role in many aspects of our daily lives. Some applications are for pure entertainment, such as B. Video games distract you from your work.
Other applications play a much more important role, such as. B. that are designed to track physical activity or other health issues.
In the cannabis world, applications come in many forms, but they are often difficult to access.
In the past, major app providers like Google and Apple have been hostile to cannabis-related apps, often delisting or removing them shortly after they appear.
This is a very frustrating issue that many tech-savvy entrepreneurs around the world face. Fortunately, there was a glimmer of hope.
New apple policy
It’s no secret that many people use Apple devices. By early 2021, there will be an estimated 1.65 billion Apple devices in use worldwide.
Presumably there are apps on each of these devices, but according to Google’s old policy, none of them can be linked to cannabis.
Promoting the sale of controlled substances (except to licensed dispensaries), marijuana or tobacco is not allowed under the old policy.
Last month, politics changed:
Promoting the sale of controlled substances (with the exception of licensed dispensaries and licensed or otherwise legal cannabis dispensaries) or tobacco is not permitted.
Good news for patients and consumers
Apps that help patients and consumers find legal pharmacies are already popular, but with Apple’s policy change, they could become even more so.
The same will be true for regulated pharmacies creating their own apps, which is unusual but likely to become more common now that access to Apple devices has improved.
Apple’s past policy was a serious disincentive to owners of technology devices. Probably a lot of people created an app for their location(s) and didn’t think it was worth the effort if they couldn’t share it with a wider audience.
Under the new policy, clinics can create their own apps and promote them in a meaningful way. These applications can complement pharmacy search applications, giving consumers and patients access to a wealth of information.
