Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ: GOOGL) subsidiary, Google, is allowing federally licensed Canadian cannabis producers to run ads for their products in a 20-day pilot program. As federal laws place strict requirements on how merchandise of this variety can be advertised in the country, the development is significant.
The marijuana advertising test initiative commenced on Aug. 25. It will run exclusively on Search, meaning that users won’t be seeing any pop ups while perusing through unrelated material. They will only appear when certain keywords related to cannabis are entered and won’t be showing up on YouTube, Shopping, etc.
“Its purpose is to explore user interest and inform potential future policy updates,” the tech leader specified in a blog post published on Aug. 20. It will provide data on user engagement, advertiser compliance rates, youth exposure incidents, and keyword performance/SEO.
The news received praise on social media from a select few figures in the tech space.
“Google just broke a 25-year advertising taboo,” commented Daniel Trotter, co-founder and Chairman and the Google ads specialist PPC Geeks Ltd. “This isn’t just another policy update. It’s a seismic shift that could reshape digital advertising forever.”
Trotter has predicted that if the pilot program is successful there will be similar initiatives in other jurisdictions within the next year and a half. These could potentially include the Netherlands, Germany and several American states.
He described it as the biggest policy shift since Google banned crypto advertising in 2018 before quietly reversing course.
“This is huge!” added e-commerce and advertising enthusiast, Md. Monirul Islam. “It feels like Google is slowly opening the door to entirely new ad opportunities while testing the waters carefully. Curious to see how fast other markets will follow.”
Tilray Brands Inc (TSE: TLRY) (NASDAQ: TLRY) (FRA: 2HQ), Canopy Growth Corp (TSE: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC) (FRA: 11L) and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSE: ACB) (NASDAQ: ACB) (FRA: 21P) are the Canada’s leading licensed producers.
So Looks Like They Fresh Out Of Gambling Ad Updates Across The Globe So Here Comes The Weed Ads BWHAHAHAHAHA.
Canada, Not Gonna Lie, Im Jeally LoL. pic.twitter.com/zD7zmD2g59
— Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) August 22, 2025
Read more: Canada’s regulated cannabis market has largely overtaken the illicit sector: report
Read more: High Tide secures foothold in German medical market after stalled January attempt
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