Google has launched a pilot program in Canada that allows licensed cannabis vendors to advertise their products online using Google ads.

First reported by CARTSaid Google on a August 20th adjournment For the company’s advertising policies that “the goal of the program is to explore the user’s interest and to inform possible policy updates in the future”. The program will last up to 20 weeks.

Only licensed federal cannabis companies in Canada will be able to participate in the Pilot Google ADS program. Moreover, if users see ads for cannabis products during the pilot program, but you will prefer not, “you will be able to give up and manage your advertising preferences,” the company said.

Federal Canadian law imposes major restrictions cannabis; However, licensed cannabis brands are allowed to share information as long as the audience is of legal consumption age. As an online platform, Google’s continuous monitoring and customer data collection can make it especially suitable for the age -advertising audience.

In the US – where cannabis remains forbidden federal – Google Ads has allowed advertising for topical hemp cannabinoid products, the report said, but thus demanding that advertisers apply for permission, and they may face further restrictions depending on the target products and markets.

A group of cannabis distributors owners filed a lawsuit against New York state regulators last week, claiming they could be forced by business because their stores are very close to schools, despite being approved by regulators, The New York Times Reports. In July, nearly 200 retail license holders of use of retail retail were informed From the cannabis management office that the location of their business “is contrary to the” state cannabis law.

The judicial proceeding, set up in the Supreme Court of the State, seeks to block the correction of the proposed proximity rules and consider businesses in accordance with the previous interpretation that allowed them to open the business in the approved place, despite the law.

In the letter to businesses, the director of OCM Acting Felicia AB Reid ESQ apologized and said she was “aware” that the information would have “consequences” for business owners. Reid added that while the affected businesses “are currently not required to change” location, it will become a matter at the time of the renovation of the license “.

“OCM cannot use the past illegal standard of review to consider a license after renovation,” the letter reads.

A bill To correct the regulatory error and grandfather in influential businesses was introduced on August 4. She is currently on the State Senate Committee.

Adult use cannabis sales in the Washington State have fallen for five years, according to the Department of Income Department reported by KHC.

First quarter sales in 2025 amounted to $ 277 million, which is nearly $ 100 million less than the market peak during the pandemia in 2021. Based on current trends, annual cannabis sales this year may be the lowest of the state since 2019 after five years of sales decline in sales decline in falling sales decline Washington.

Regulators attribute to the decline of excessive supply issues, which lower prices and make it more difficult for licensing to return a profit.

Officials with the State Board of Liquor and Cannabis (LCB) recently announced The greater expansion of cannabis distributors from the beginning of the market over a decade ago, offering up to 52 new retail social capital licenses.

Meanwhile, a report by the state legislative auditor found that “businesses in Washington produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023”, and that “inaccurate and incomplete data” had prevented the ability of “data -driven adjustment”.

Audit at LCB to submit a plan to lawmakers by 31 December 2025, containing strategies to improve data accuracy.