It makes sense that the DEA would monitor Instragram and other social networks for illicit activity — be it evidence of or .
And the agency’s recent 134-page report, the , confirms some of the DEA’s 420-oriented Internet search history.
“Social media reflects how younger people perceive marijuana use as evidenced by various Internet searches that demonstrate minors using marijuana publicly and with impunity,” the new report reads. “Social media users of all ages, but primarily younger individuals, have posted hundreds of thousands of photos of themselves with marijuana products on various social media sites; these photos are associated with hashtags that represent marijuana (e.g. #420, #710, #BHO, #dabs).”
The DEA said that around 1,200 new photos and videos tagged with a #BHO hashtag were posted to Instagram each day in 2014. The DEA’s definition for BHO (butane hash oil) is decent — “a slang term for marijuana concentrates” — but itap not as thorough as .
And this is where things get loud.
“In November 2014,” the DEA’s report continues, “after the success of a popular online challenge, another social media challenge was issued for people to post photos and videos of themselves using marijuana in public places with the corresponding hashtag . In response to the challenge, people have posted videos of themselves using marijuana in restaurants, in airports, on public transportation, and in classrooms.”
Some semi-related questions:
Is it ever legal to buy or sell marijuana on Craigslist (and other similar sites)?.
Can I legally post photos of my pot plants online?.
The 15 most intriguing questions our readers asked this year — .
