Apple now allowing marijuana-themed App Store downloads in 23 US states where drug is legal
America's stance on marijuana is changing, and so too are Apple's App Store policies, as the iPhone maker has begun giving the greenlight to cannabis-related apps, provided they are accessed from a state where the drug has been legalized.
Apple's change was spotlighted on Friday by the makers of the app MassRoots, a social networking application for cannabis users. Apple has allowed MassRoots back into the App Store with a new mandatory geolocation check that will prevent users outside of authorized territories from accessing the network.
The change comes after the developers of MassRoots and other marijuana advocacy groups petitioned Apple to consider changing its stance on barring drug-themed applications from the App Store.
"We'd like to thank the App Store for embracing the cannabis community and continuing to set an example as a socially-progressive institution," the MassRoots team wrote. "We are excited to begin a new chapter with Apple in which we can work together to affect meaningful societal change."
With its acceptance into the App Store, the self-described "voice of the cannabis community" said it now has "a duty to show the world that cannabis consumption can be done in a safe and responsible manner in compliance" with the law. The developer said it plans to add new features and security measures that go beyond even Apple's requirements in the coming weeks.
Since the late 1990s, 23 U.S. states and Washington D.C. have legalized the sale and use of cannabis in one form or another, whether restricted to medical needs or for recreational use. The states where it is legal, and marijuana-related iOS apps should be accessible, are:
Apple's change was spotlighted on Friday by the makers of the app MassRoots, a social networking application for cannabis users. Apple has allowed MassRoots back into the App Store with a new mandatory geolocation check that will prevent users outside of authorized territories from accessing the network.
The change comes after the developers of MassRoots and other marijuana advocacy groups petitioned Apple to consider changing its stance on barring drug-themed applications from the App Store.
"We'd like to thank the App Store for embracing the cannabis community and continuing to set an example as a socially-progressive institution," the MassRoots team wrote. "We are excited to begin a new chapter with Apple in which we can work together to affect meaningful societal change."
With its acceptance into the App Store, the self-described "voice of the cannabis community" said it now has "a duty to show the world that cannabis consumption can be done in a safe and responsible manner in compliance" with the law. The developer said it plans to add new features and security measures that go beyond even Apple's requirements in the coming weeks.
Since the late 1990s, 23 U.S. states and Washington D.C. have legalized the sale and use of cannabis in one form or another, whether restricted to medical needs or for recreational use. The states where it is legal, and marijuana-related iOS apps should be accessible, are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
Comments
I understand you needed to grab eyeballs with the headline... at least you then use the correct term in the story..
"Marijuana" , although originally a Mexican folk name historically, became a pejorative term for Cannabis, popularised by the racist publisher William Randolph Hearst and used to demonize Cannabis and its users through his newspapers. The plant is called Cannabis.
I understand you needed to grab eyeballs with the headline... at least you then use the correct term in the story..
Who cares
As far as the App Store goes this is great particularly for patients like me who use marijuana for medicinal purposes.
This is up for debate right now in Georgia, so if that's you, email your Georgia House Representative:
Go to the link
http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx
click on their name to find their email address
Email your Georgia State Senator:
http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/SenateMembersList.aspx
These lists have a search engine; just type in your town and it will highlight your Representative and your Senator.
Polite. Responsible. Friendly.
I found that interesting. That sort of thing has happened many times and happens now with words. The etymology of a word is often well worth knowing for a good understanding of historical and current values thus enabling a better perspective.
All you say is true however Q-Tips , Kleenex etc., were not coined to change perception deliberately by some entity for its own deliberate agenda (although no doubt encouraged for marketing lol). If this is indeed the case here it is at least worth knowing.
Two references now ... So .... is there some relevance / connection to 'Dr. Dre' and 'selling Cannabis related apps' I am unaware of?
Details matter.
You need to update your blocked posters filter perhaps?
I agree with Argonaut's view on this one. It's popularly called "medical marijuana" or "recreational marijuana", but those are lazy and uninformed descriptors.
Oh update, I misread as unblock ... gotchya.
Good to hear Apple is coming to their senses. Many of us QA guys at Apple in the early 90's used to smoke it on weekend work days, and sometimes you could smell it lingering in the bathrooms in the Mariani One building. Oh, the good old days. Some guys would say it helped them find more bugs, Didn't do the same for me, I just got scared a manager would catch on (paranoid) :-)
Just what I was thinking. They don't block books about cannabis in those states.
Why should it matter whether or not a particular state has legal cannibas? The app itself is not illegal. Seems a misstep, IMO.
Apple plays the political game. They don't want to be accomplices to the failure of prohibition. They don't want to be a punching bag for politicians who are. Apple is allowing as much freedom as the voters of a particular region have chosen.
"Marijuana" , although originally a Mexican folk name historically, became a pejorative term for Cannabis, popularised by the racist publisher William Randolph Hearst and used to demonize Cannabis and its users through his newspapers. The plant is called Cannabis.
I understand you needed to grab eyeballs with the headline... at least you then use the correct term in the story..
Apparently, "Marijuana" worked to grab your eyeballs. Besides, if you are going to stand on technicalities, it's not "Cannabis" but rather "Cannabis sativa". Regardless of what it's called, I wouldn't endorse it.
How would Apple reliably determine the location of the user? Determining location by IP address is no longer reliable. I don't recall if location is required info when creating an Apple id (and I'm certain it can be faked). Billing address by credit card isn't a good means to determine the current location of the user. Activation address for an iTunes card wouldn't be accurate either because people can travel.
I see Apple removing this restriction because it really doesn't accomplish anything -- restricting info because the use of something is illegal in that area? It's also technically impossible, circumventable, or potentially inaccurate.