Meta ad rejected · Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
Why was my Meta ad rejected for drugs or paraphernalia?
Meta does not allow ads that sell or encourage the use of illicit or recreational drugs, THC or cannabis products, or drug paraphernalia such as bongs, rolling papers and vaporizers, even where they are legal. Ads can mention drugs only for news, awareness or political advocacy, so remove any sale or encouragement and resubmit.
What usually triggers it
- Offering, selling or giving away recreational or illicit drugs, or substances used to get high.“Legal herbal highs, discreet next-day delivery.”
- Encouraging people to use drugs, even with no product for sale.“Nothing beats a weekend on mushrooms.”
- THC or cannabis products with psychoactive components, ingestible or not.“Fresh strains in at our dispensary, order ahead for pickup.”
- Drug paraphernalia, such as bongs, rolling papers and vaporizers.“Glass bongs and rolling papers, 30% off this weekend.”
- Images of cannabis buds or cannabis oil, which Meta treats as promoting a THC product.“A skincare ad photographed next to a pile of cannabis buds.”
- Merchandise that depicts high-risk drugs.“Our cocaine-print T-shirt collection, just dropped.”
- Psychedelics or other entheogens offered for sale.“Psilocybin microdose capsules, shipped worldwide.”
How to fix the ad
- Check what the ad offers. If it is a recreational drug, a THC product, an entheogen, drug paraphernalia or merchandise showing high-risk drugs, Meta does not allow ads for it, and rewording or blurring the product will not change that.
- Remove any line, image or video moment that makes drug use look fun or normal, even as a joke. Meta bans ads that encourage consumption, not only ads that sell.
- If your ad is about news, awareness or political advocacy, keep it to information and make sure it does not offer or encourage use. Meta allows these ads to refer to prohibited drugs on that basis.
- If the ad is about drug law reform, check whether it counts as an ad about social issues, elections or politics. Meta says these need a disclaimer.
- If you sell CBD or hemp, those follow separate rules; see our CBD and hemp guide. For US addiction treatment ads, get LegitScript certification and apply to Meta for permission first.
- Check the landing page and online shop too, since Meta’s review can include the destination. Run the copy through our free checker at /check before upload; it estimates risk and is not Meta’s decision.
Risky wording, and safer wording
Illustrative examples to show the difference. Always check the full ad, image and landing page too.
| Risky | Safer |
|---|---|
| Microdosing changed my life. Get your starter kit. | A free talk on current research into psychedelic-assisted therapy. Nothing for sale. |
| Party pills delivered to your door this weekend. | Know the signs of an overdose and how to help. Free first-aid guide. |
| Support legalisation and celebrate with 20% off our edibles. | Read our summary of the proposed cannabis law and what it would change. |
| Struggling with addiction? Our rehab can help. | Confidential addiction treatment from a LegitScript-certified centre. (US ads need Meta’s permission first.) |
If your ad is already rejected
- Read the reason in Meta Business Support Home (formerly Account Quality) or in the rejection notice.
- If the ad sells or encourages a prohibited drug or paraphernalia, accept the rejection and stop advertising that product on Meta. Severe or repeated violations can restrict the ad account.
- If the ad was news, awareness or advocacy and offered nothing for sale, request another review in Business Support Home. Meta aims to decide within 48 hours, and if it is rejected again you cannot request another review for that ad.
- Do not use code words, misspellings or a different landing page to get a drug product past review. Editing or deleting a rejected ad does not remove the violation.
Check your next ad before you upload it
Paste the copy and add the image or video. The free checker scores the rejection risk, points to the exact words at fault and the Meta policy behind each one, and suggests a safer version. It estimates risk; it isn't a decision from Meta.
Likely to be rejected. Fix the flagged lines before you upload.
This supplement ad combines a personal-attribute callout, a specific weight-loss result, guaranteed results, clickbait and a URL shortener, so it is very likely to be rejected.
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
https://bit.ly/slim-offer
6 issues found · tap a highlight to jump to it
“Are you struggling with belly fat?” · primary text
The ad asserts a personal characteristic about the viewer by addressing them directly about a body condition.
Fix: Our gummies are designed to support a healthy metabolism.
“helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!!” · primary text
A specific weight-loss amount within a short timeframe is an exaggerated, unrealistic result, and supplement ads must target 18+.
Fix: Remove the specific result; use a general statement such as 'Part of a balanced routine for healthy weight management.'
“GUARANTEED RESULTS” · headline
Guaranteed results are a prohibited claim for health and weight-loss products.
Fix: Use 'Start your wellness routine today' or remove the claim entirely.
“Doctors hate this one trick.” · primary text
This is classic clickbait, and the triple exclamation marks add to the sensational tone.
Fix: Replace with 'Learn how our gummies fit into a healthy routine.'
“See the before and after pics.” · primary text
Before-and-after comparisons for weight loss are high risk and draw rejection.
Fix: Remove the before-and-after reference and focus on the product's ingredients.
“https://bit.ly/slim-offer” · landing page
URL shorteners hide the true destination and are high risk, and can lead to account-level enforcement.
Fix: Use the full, direct landing page URL on the brand's own domain.
Safer version
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
Meet our gummies, designed to support a healthy metabolism. Easy to add to your day and made to fit into a balanced routine for healthy weight management. Learn how they fit into a healthy routine.
Start your wellness routine today
Also change: Link: replace the bit.ly shortener with the full, direct URL on your own brand domain, and make sure the landing page has no before-and-after photos, guaranteed-result claims or specific weight-loss numbers. Creative: remove any before-and-after images and any overlay text about kilos lost. Show the product or lifestyle shots instead, with overlay text like "Support your healthy routine". Set ad targeting to 18+.
Questions
Can I advertise cannabis where it is legal?
No. Meta’s ad policy does not allow ads that promote or offer THC products or cannabis products with related psychoactive components, ingestible or not, and it gives no country exception for them.
Are bongs, rolling papers and vaporizers allowed in ads?
No. Meta bans ads that promote the sale of drug-related paraphernalia and gives bongs, rolling papers and vaporizers as examples.
Can I run a drug awareness or prevention campaign?
Yes. Meta allows ads that refer to prohibited drugs for news, awareness campaigns and political advocacy, as long as they do not promote buying or using them.
Can I advertise psychedelics research or legal reform?
You can discuss them, but not sell or encourage use. Meta’s Community Standards allow debating the legality and the scientific or medical merits of entheogens, and drug law ads may need a social issue disclaimer.
Is CBD treated the same as cannabis?
No. Meta allows some CBD ads in the US with LegitScript certification and Meta authorization, and some hemp products in Canada, Mexico and the US. See our CBD and hemp guide for the details.
Can I advertise addiction treatment?
Yes, with conditions. For ads targeting people in the US, Meta requires addiction treatment providers to be certified by LegitScript and to apply to Meta for permission.
Meta's official pages
- Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (Meta Transparency Center)
- About Meta's Cannabis and Cannabis Derived Products advertising policy (Meta Business Help Center)
- Restricted Goods and Services (Meta Transparency Center)
- Introduction to the Advertising Standards (Meta Transparency Center)
- How to troubleshoot a rejected ad (Meta Business Help Center)
Ad Account Shield is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Meta.
Related guides
- CBD and hemp adsCBD needs LegitScript and Meta authorization in the US; THC products can’t be advertised.
- Tobacco and vaping adsTobacco, vapes, nicotine pouches and smoking accessories can’t be advertised; approved quit aids can.
- Prescription drugs, telehealthPrescription drug and GLP-1 ads need Meta authorization, eligible countries and 18+.