Are Social Media Giants Like Google & Meta Helping Illicit Pot Shops In New York? Some Cannabis Advocates Say Yes
The owners of legal cannabis shops in New York are asking authorities to look into social media companies and tech giants they claim are making it possible for their unlicensed competitors to promote their illicit businesses.
To that end, they’re calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to take action against companies such as Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Meta NASDAQ: META), to name a few, and then potentially file a lawsuit, reported the New York Post.
Osbert Orduna, behind the Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association, pointed out that social media companies “track every click that goes on their site,” and that “it would be disingenuous for them to say they don’t know what’s going on.”
The trend is recognized by other market stakeholders and cannabis advocates as well.
Orduna’s partner in the effort, Jayson Tantalo, the New York Cannabis Retail Association’s co-founder and VP of operations said they are in the process of spreading the word about the growing concern. They …