A Bend, Oregon, cannabis company has found an interesting way to market its product. It’s sponsoring athletes.
The company, Oregrown, grows, processes, and sells cannabis.
Founder Aviv Hadar said he’s inked sponsorship deals with several snowboarders and skiers.
As the Bend Bulletin first reported, the biggest name is John Spriggs, a freestyle and backcountry skier who’s competed in the X Games.
“We’re helping him travel, and explore the backcountry and use cannabis instead of pharmaceutical medicines," Hadar said.
"And he’s helping us tell that story and get that story across.”
The company is paying Spriggs a monthly stipend in exchange for his promotion of the brand.
Spriggs is now among at least three professional athletes nationwide who have formal marijuana sponsorship deals.
Hadar said cannabis is pretty widely accepted recreationally and for pain relief by counter culture athletes like skiers, snowboarders and surfers.
By contrast, major sports leagues like the NFL and the NBA drug test their athletes and ban marijuana.
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