You know, ephedra – the dietary supplement that the FDA banned in 2004.  Attention to detail is a commendable quality, but I can’t quite figure this move out; after all, Google’s Content Policy has already outlawed “drugs and drug paraphernalia,” as well as “prescription drugs and related content,” so the new regulation seems a bit redundant.

In any case, I owe a hat tip to Barry Schwartz for discovering Lou Pickney’s post on the WebmasterWorld Forum.  Pickney’s the fellow who received Google’s email, and he writes, “Google will no longer accept AdWords ads promoting the sale of ephedra or ‘ephedrine-based’ products.”

Pickney then adds, “It actually surprises me that it took this long for Google to make the move.”

A few posts down, Meg Geddes weighs in on a question about selling pills on the Web.  “I work in the rehab field on the AdWords side, and that’s what we see over and over – people can’t get them from their doctors anymore, so they get them online.  I dunno how, because I thought it was illegal too, but they do.”

‘Tis all very mystifying, but Google’s ban of ephedra isn’t likely to meet with many objections.