Commentary

Apple Lifts Ban On Pot Social App MassRoots

There’s an app for thai stick! After being totally uptight and not cool about the whole thing, Apple has finally relented and lifted its ban on MassRoots, the social network app for marijuana fans, the company reported on its blog last week. Apple originally gave MassRoots the boot back in November, citing a policy against “apps that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol or illegal substances."

As marijuana remains illegal in roughly half United States (mostly the square ones) the app was pretty clearly in violation of the policy in these places. To bring it into compliance, MassRoots has restricted the availability of the app geographically so it can only be downloaded in states where marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes.

MassRoots claims to have more than 250,000 active users for its social app, which combines features found on mainstream social networks like Instagram and Twitter. Typical content shared on the network includes updates on the legalization effort, recipes for edible marijuana, and of course a plethora of technical information about different strains and varieties, cultivation techniques, and so on. Users don’t have to provide their real names or email addresses, affording more anonymity than most social nets.

As it turns out, MassRoots isn’t the only marijuana app out there. Another service, Leafly, provides information about marijuana strains, products and legal sellers, including myriad user-generated reviews (speaking of reviews, Leafly itself received high praise from our own Steve Smith). Then, of course, Instagram also seems to function as a de facto social network for marijuana dealers and buyers.

Since this is President’s Day, it only seems right to conclude with George Washington’s advice to his gardener to “make the most you can” of “India Hemp,” advising him “the Hemp may be sown any where.” Non-mellow historians will doubtless remind us that the Father of the Nation merely wanted to encourage the making of rope, a strategic necessity for maritime commerce -- but that’s just what they want you to believe, maaan.  

 
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