Apple pulls marijuana dealing game ‘Weed Firm’ from app store

The controversial albeit very popular game ‘Weed Firm’ has been taken down by Apple from the iTunes app store this week. In the game players take on the role of a drug dealer, tasked with growing and selling marijuana to people in their neighbourhood. The player must also avoid police and other rival gangs, with certain mini games including enticing a stripper to become a buyer fanning the flame of controversy even further.

After reaching the number one spot this month in more than one category of games the app was taken down, much to the surprise of Manitoba Games, the developer of Weed Firm.

Since 2010 Apple has been honest and open about their content review and rating process, with strict guidelines set in place to advise game developers during their developing process. However, at this stage it is unclear why the app was taken down, especially as comparable apps still exist on the market at the time of writing.

“This was entirely Apple’s decision, not ours.” stated a spokes person on the official Manitoba Games website. The Manitoba spokesperson continued on to defend their game stating “…there are certainly a great number of weed based apps still available, as well as games promoting other so-called ‘illegal activities’ such as shooting people, crashing cars and throwing birds at buildings.”

Manitoba Games also stated “We do not want kids playing Weed Firm, but we firmly believe that adults should have a choice to do whatever the hell they want as long as they are not hurting anybody in the process.”

Manitoba have promised to return their game to the iTunes app store once a censorship agreement has been reached with Apple.