Growing Number of Dispensaries Sue Mark Zuckerberg

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he operators behind seven medical cannabis dispensaries in Oklahoma sued Facebook after the social media site placed several cannabis-related accounts under “Facebook jail.” The lawsuit was originally filed by Danna Malone, owner of Ye Olde Apothecary Shoppe, who listed Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Sheryl Sandberg and executive team member Peter Thiel as defendants in the Tulsa County District Court.

On July 18, six more dispensary owners joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs. Tulsa World reported on July 31 that the list includes Flowercraft Co. of Tulsa and Coweta and owner Shawn Jenkins, The Greens Bakery of Tulsa and owner Monica Green,Tribal Nations CBD Outlet and owner Paul Gossett, Stoned 4 Survival and owners Sherri and Donny Taylor of Grant, Top Shelf Growers Inc. and owners Rachel and Nathaniel Duggan and Cannabis Island with owner Samantha Ditata.

“Facebook has an arbitrary, subjective, discriminatory and archaic policy and their policy does not apply to all,” the petition reads. “It is just random. Or at least it appears to be random. There is no way for an individual or a business to contact anyone within Facebook to get assistance. They hide behind their keyboards and mete out whatever punishment they feel if they find that you have committed an infraction to their subjective community standards.” The plaintiffs are seeking an end to the censorship of cannabis-related posts and $75,000 for “economic harm” plus attorney fees.

“Facebook jail” happens when social media site users are banned from participating on the platform for alleged Facebook standards violations. Facebook blocked searches for words like “cannabis” and “marijuana,” but recently lifted the ban for certain verified accounts.

Per Facebook’s Community Standards, cannabis is explicitly mentioned. “We prohibit attempts by individuals, manufacturers, and retailers to purchase, sell, or trade non-medical drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, and marijuana,” the standards read. Facebook’s Advertising Policies take it a step further, banning smoking devices or certain images of cannabis being consumed. It’s unlikely the lawsuit will create any sea change for Facebook policies, but it could bring some attention to the way cannabis in censored on social media.