In an attempt to keep cannabis references off their platforms, social media companies have rolled out an astonishing list of 82,000 banned words and emojis, sweeping everyday language into the restricted zone and leaving users baffled over what’s even safe to say anymore. Originally aimed at targeting subtle cannabis slang, the ban has spiraled into a full-scale linguistic purge, where innocent phrases about food, gardening, and even the weather are now landing users in hot water.

The original intent was to stop cannabis enthusiasts from using creative slang to bypass content restrictions, but the sheer number of banned terms has unintentionally roped in food bloggers, gardeners, and weather forecasters alike. Terms like “chilling,” “herbs,” “getting baked,” and even “high” (as in temperature) have been flagged as potential code words for cannabis, resulting in a bizarre new era of social media where talking about your favorite salad could get you flagged as a rule-breaker.

Food bloggers are among the hardest hit. “I posted a pesto recipe and used the words ‘fresh herbs’—next thing I know, my account’s on suspension,” said Sasha Wong, a popular food blogger. “It’s absurd. I’m here for basil, not bud, but apparently that’s too close for comfort.”

Meteorologists, too, have found themselves in a bind. After a series of weather reports using the phrase “high temperatures” were flagged, many have been left scratching their heads. “All I said was ‘high temps and humidity’ for tomorrow’s forecast,” said forecaster Dave Klein. “Who knew talking about the weather could turn me into a suspected dealer?”

Even gardening enthusiasts aren’t safe. Sarah Wilkins, a proud vegetable gardener, received a warning for posting about “leafy greens” with a sprout emoji. “They flagged me for promoting ‘cannabis activity,’ but I was just trying to show off my kale,” she said, clearly exasperated. “Now I have to think twice about every word I use just to talk about my garden.”

The restrictions have even managed to target innocent phrases used by pizza lovers and party planners. Max Kline, a pizza blogger, saw his post flagged for the caption, “Friends over for some za!” after the platform labeled “za” as potential cannabis slang. “I had no idea ‘za’ could mean anything other than pizza,” Max shared. “I guess sharing pizza nights with friends is too risky now?”

With each passing day, the 82,000 banned words list grows, pushing ordinary social media users into increasingly absurd scenarios. As users struggle to adapt, many are left wondering if any language is truly safe. “At this rate, we’re all going to be flagged just for saying hello,” sighed one user. “If ‘good vibes’ and ‘relaxing’ are banned, maybe we’re better off in silence.”