Everyone knows that the modern mobile phone is set up to do so much more than make a simple call. From checking emails to locating friends, there seems little the latest generation of handsets can't do.

However – even in this tech-savvy age – the latest offering in iPhone apps has caused a stir.

For just $2.99 Apple is offering customers a service that allows them to find local marijuana suppliers. The news has created a buzz online, as the world's stoners contemplate carrying out online price comparisons between dealers in their local areas.

But before bongs are fired up in celebration it should be noted the new service actually aims to help people locate legal medical suppliers in the US, rather than the best place to get hold of a quarter of Moroccan black in the neighbourhood.

According to Mashable the app is a location-based service that takes the known locations of medical collectives, doctors, clinics, and organisations from three sources and aggregates them on a Google Map. When activated it finds the nearest source of legal cannabis. But even if you live in the right area of the US you need a licence allowing you to buy cannabis for medical reasons before you can take advantage.

However, for those not medically qualified to get their hands on marijuana the app offers an additional service, pointing users to the nearest pro-cannabis organisations, so they can join the campaign to promote reform of the drugs laws.

As Mashable says, the app's current features aren't revolutionary, but it does promise news updates, videos, and reviews in the future. So it looks like smokers everywhere may finally have an app they can rally behind.