Apple and Google just OK’d ‘High There,’ networking app for cannabis enthusiasts

Ever
gone on a Tinder date with what seems like the perfect person, only to find out
they aren’t 420-friendly? Well, now there’s a way to “weed” out potential mates
who don’t follow a green lifestyle. Cue High There, an app that’s described as
“Tinder for cannabis users.”

According
to a recent report by Forbes,
High There was created by Todd Mitchem and is noted as what may be the first
social network for cannabis lovers. At first, the app could only be downloaded
in states with legalized cannabis, but it quickly gained a following in New
York and California.

Mitchem
says the overall market has over 12 million users and is a major opportunity to
cash in on a bourgeoning niche industry. “Look at FarmersOnly.com. That’s even
more niche in a way, and it’s making a lot of money,” he says. Mitchem pitched
his idea to tech titans Apple and Google–needless to say, their responses were
surprising. “I thought we might hear back that they weren’t ready, or that
local governments might not be okay with it and ready. Instead, they said we
were all clear to go do it globally,” said Mitchem.

High
There is now available for cannabis fans to connect with other like-minded
individuals based on the type of cannabis or “high” they prefer – worldwide.
The trending app works on both Android and iOS. Demand is especially high in
the Netherlands, Spain, England, and Australia, and the app is expected to gain
tens of thousands of new users.

The
app deletes accounts that use actual photos of cannabis as their profile pic,
and removes all photos of cannabis in a user’s picture section. Mitchem swears
the app does not encourage the actual sale of cannabis, rather, “If you are
someone interested in the movement and want to meet nice, chill people, that’s
what it’s about,” says Mitchem.

The
company plans on hiring additional employees to promote the app and partnering
with other 420-friendly businesses that cater to stoners. High There will also try
and raise investment capital later in the year. Currently, one of the biggest
obstacles is improving the reviews of the app, which are mediocre at best (High
There gets 3 out of 5 stars on Google Play and 2.5 stars on the iOS App Store).

Regardless
of the “Haze-y” reviews, the growing cannabis market can’t be ignored, and more
services like High There are inevitable.