Mobile carriers (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile) now mandate all businesses to register their texting number with 10DLC. Starting September 1, unregistered business texting numbers will face temporary suspension. Birdeye will facilitate outgoing text messages, automations, and auto-replies via a shared toll-free number, +18449090202, appending "Sent via Birdeye" to each text. Unregistered numbers won't have incoming text capabilities. Register your number promptly to avoid disruptions. Access your Birdeye dashboard and complete registration via the link on the top banner. For guidance, visit. For help, reach us at 1-800-561-3357 Ext. 3 or support@birdeye.com.

The cannabis industry faces real challenges when it comes to text communication options supported by phone carriers. As your partner, Birdeye is here to ensure all your messages are safe to send and adhere to federal laws and phone carriers' messaging policies.

Starting August 25th, Birdeye will adhere to Federal Law as it relates to cannabis and cannabis-related companies to keep cannabis-related communication businesses compliant.

This interruption started with the ban of cannabis-related keywords such as Cannabis, Marijuana, and CBD by all major phone carriers. Phone carriers are now mandating accounts cease all text communications from marijuana-related companies, which violate typically acceptable usage policies (AUP).

Even though some states have legalized marijuana, Federal Laws in the United States prohibit its sale and marketing. Likewise, messages related to CBD are not permissible in the United States, as certain states prohibit its sale and marketing.

Cannabis businesses can still communicate with their customers using email campaigns and automation to promote their products and services. This would include sending review requests, survey requests, referral requests, and bulk email communications.

Key Changes Moving Forward 

• The text message ban on cannabis-related businesses is being made by telecommunication carriers, not Birdeye.
• Cannabis is legal in several states, however, text messages from cannabis businesses are not permissible in the United States because telephonic communications are federally controlled and cannabis is not yet legal on the federal level.
• Birdeye worked with telecommunication carriers to offer text-based services to marijuana business users, but Federal Law prohibits such texts across the text-based services industry.
• The prohibition to send texts by cannabis-related businesses applies to every text service provider company, not just Birdeye.

We’d like to reiterate that Birdeye is abiding by the law and has no control over the text message changes for cannabis-related businesses. We are fully committed to industry-specific users and will keep you updated as the regulations change.

SOLUTION - EMAIL-ONLY WEBCHAT

Since the text message ban on cannabis-related businesses is being made by telecommunication carriers, Birdeye has introduced email only Webchat option for cannabis businesses.  

Your customers and prospects can now seamlessly get in touch with you for cannabis-related orders and queries without the need to enter their mobile numbers. Customers can provide their email address through webchat, and business owners will receive the information in the Inbox, without any conversation being blocked.