The most popular website on the entire internet is Google, and that has been the case for many years. Billions of people around the world obtain their information from Google, and this extends beyond the company’s search engine.

Google Ads are a major source of advertising that consumers encounter while surfing the internet. Google Ads are displayed across Google’s online properties, including the company’s search engine and YouTube, as well as on websites that dedicate part of their webpages to spaces that display Google Ads.

Many cannabis companies have historically been prohibited from advertising via Google Ads since such content violates Google’s terms and conditions. The same goes for cannabis websites wishing to populate Google Ads on their webpages. Cannabis companies and cannabis-focused websites can get around the terms and conditions for a time, but they eventually get removed from Google Ads once they are discovered.

In a major sign that cannabis continues to go mainstream, Google Ads has rolled out a pilot program in Canada that permits federally licensed cannabis businesses to advertise through Google’s platform, which creates a major opportunity for the country’s emerging cannabis industry.

“The project began on August 25, 2025, and is expected to run for up to 20 weeks. Participation in the program will be restricted to federally licensed cannabis producers in Canada.” reported StratCann in its local coverage. “StratCann spoke with some producers and legal experts about their thoughts on the program and its compliance with Canadian cannabis regulations for marketing and promotion.”

“A media representative with the Google Press Team told StratCann via email that the organization will only serve these ads to signed-in users who have identified themselves as being over the age of 21.” the outlet also reported.

Google will reportedly use the pilot program in Canada to gather data and information, and possibly use it in the future when crafting company policies and strategies. As reported by Marijuana Moment in late 2022, Google lifted its blanket advertising ban on U.S. hemp and cannabidiol companies.

The United States legalized hemp across the country as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, although there has been a push underway in the last year to tighten up hemp laws and regulations in the U.S.