Yelp updated its Terms of Service on June 11, 2026 to clarify how it handles cannabis business information and advertising. The updated terms state that Yelp includes both licensed and unlicensed cannabis businesses in its directory, does not verify license status before publishing, and will display a blue Verified License badge only when Yelp has confirmed a license. The terms also prohibit cannabis businesses from purchasing Yelp Ads, establishing a distinction between business listing eligibility and advertising eligibility.
The updated terms establish how Yelp handles cannabis business listings and advertising. Yelp will include both licensed and unlicensed cannabis businesses in its directory without verifying license status before publication. Only businesses that Yelp has verified as licensed will display a blue Verified License badge. The absence of this badge does not indicate a business is unlicensed. Cannabis businesses are prohibited from purchasing Yelp Ads, though their business information may remain visible in search results. Users searching for cannabis products can reference the Verified License badge to identify businesses Yelp has confirmed as licensed.
The updated terms establish clear operational distinctions between cannabis business listing eligibility and advertising eligibility. Cannabis retailers can maintain searchable business profiles on Yelp without pre-verification of licenses, but are excluded from paid advertising channels. This affects how cannabis businesses use Yelp for customer acquisition and how users identify verified cannabis retailers.
Yelp includes both licensed and unlicensed cannabis businesses and does not verify license status before publication
A blue badge indicates Yelp has verified a license; its absence does not indicate unlicensed status
Cannabis businesses are prohibited from purchasing Yelp Ads
This change record describes what was added, removed, or modified in the document. Analysis reflects what the updated agreement states or permits. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology
This change clarifies Yelp's operational stance on cannabis business listings and advertising eligibility. The terms establish that business listing publication does not require prior license verification, while advertising eligibility is restricted entirely to non-cannabis sellers. Organizations using Yelp to advertise cannabis products must discontinue paid advertising campaigns. The change does not appear to create new regulatory obligations for downstream vendors or enterprises, as it addresses Yelp's own publishing and advertising policies rather than data handling, processing, or third-party vendor requirements.
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