Shopify · Shopify Acceptable Use Policy

Drug Paraphernalia and Controlled Substance Prohibition

High severity
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What it is

You may not use the Shopify Services to sell illegal drugs or controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, or products that make claims to treat, cure, or prevent a medical condition without regulatory approval.

Why it matters

This provision captures a wide range of products beyond obvious drug paraphernalia — including herbal supplements, CBD products, and wellness items that make health claims — putting merchants at risk if their marketing language implies treatment of a medical condition without FDA approval.

Consumer impact

Shopify's AUP primarily affects merchants who use the platform to run their businesses, as it defines the full scope of what can and cannot be sold — with violations potentially resulting in immediate store termination and loss of access to funds held in Shopify Payments. Consumers shopping on Shopify-powered stores benefit indirectly from these rules, which prohibit counterfeit goods, fraudulent schemes, and dangerous unregulated products. You can review the full list of prohibited and restricted product categories at shopify.com/legal/aup before building your store to ensure compliance.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC enforces against deceptive health and medical claims in advertising for dietary supplements and wellness products under FTC Act Section 5, often in coordination with the FDA.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Shopify Acceptable Use Policy
Entity
Shopify
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 15, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002242
Document ID
CA-D-00124
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
c3d037196ffbb1471c40eb696d0527749e9581d33970cdd9620dc96a8e8dfbdb
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Shopify | Document: Shopify Acceptable Use Policy | Record: CA-P-002242
Captured: 2026-03-15 12:02:55 UTC | SHA-256: c3d037196ffbb147…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/shopify/shopify-acceptable-use-policy/drug-paraphernalia-and-controlled-substance-prohibition/
Accessed: April 6, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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