In an unprecedented move, Dutchie, a leader in cannabis technology, was announced as the first cannabis brand to be an official sponsor of the Players Tailgate at the Super Bowl, marking a significant moment in sports and cannabis industry history. The partnership, along with Green Leaf Business Solutions and First Citizens Bank, highlights the growing acceptance of cannabis, which is now legal for adult use in nearly half of the United States.
The National Football League (NFL) has traditionally been conservative regarding marijuana use, but has recently relaxed its stance, requiring players to be tested only once a year. The shift reflects growing acceptance within the sports community, with former NFL stars advocating for cannabis research related to pain management. In fact, the NFL has committed $1 million to exploring the benefits of cannabis. This reflects the sentiment of 36% of fans who enjoy cannabis while watching a game.
Kristin Schreiber, Dutchie's senior vice president of marketing, sees the sponsorship as a sign of the normalization of legal cannabis. “Football is more mainstream than ever, and Ducky’s presence at the Players Tailgate represents a huge step forward for the cannabis industry,” Schreiber said. This event promises to pave the way for future initiatives between the cannabis sector and large-scale sporting events.
The Players Tailgate, hosted by Las Vegas' Bullseye Event Group, is now in its 10th year and has become an anticipated Super Bowl Sunday tradition. This year's event, hosted by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and famed sports broadcaster Sage Steele, will not sell marijuana, although adult-use marijuana is legal in Nevada. Kyle Kinnett, CEO of Bullseye, acknowledged the importance of celebrating the Super Bowl in a state that supports adult-use cannabis and expressed his excitement to welcome Dutchie as its first cannabis technology brand sponsor. .
Ducky's pioneering sponsorship of the Players Tailgate not only celebrates football's biggest night, but also marks a milestone in the journey towards normalizing and accepting cannabis in mainstream culture. This partnership focuses on the evolving landscape of both the cannabis and sports industries, and points to a future where the two can openly and legally coexist on some of the world's biggest stages.
