Kansas City Royals partners with Pure Spectrum CBD

The Kansas City Royals last week officially became the second Major League Baseball (MLB) team to partner with a CBD company. Pure Spectrum announced its connection with the Kansas City Royals as a “trusted wellness partner” on Instagram and Facebook. “Pure Spectrum is thrilled to announce our new partnership with the @kcroyals. We can’t wait to see you in the field,” the company wrote online on June 6.

Pure Spectrum also released a statement from the Kansas City Royals. “The Kansas City Royals are proud to announce a partnership with Pure Spectrum CBD, a pioneer in the hemp industry and a leading producer of high-quality CBD products,” the post reads. “This partnership will focus on educating fans about their endocannabinoid system and the potential benefits of CBD for general well-being.”

“The Kansas City Royals are proud to be only the second MLB team to partner with a company like Pure Spectrum,” said Sarah Tourville, executive vice president, chief commercial and community impact officer for the Kansas City Royals. “For this organization, this opportunity means supporting a brand with ties to Kansas City and educating the community about the benefits of CBD.”

The partnership also included the opening of Pure Spectrum Lodge, which opened June 2 at the team’s Kauffman Stadium. “The room is lined with fans and misters and is designed to provide fans with a place to relax and watch the game while learning about the beneficial effects of CBD,” reads a press release.

According to Startland News, Pure Spectrum CEO Dan Huerter hails from the region. “As someone who grew up in Kansas City, this partnership with the Kansas City Royals is more than a dream come true for me,” said Huerter. “It’s an incredible honor to be able to work with such an iconic organization and to be a part of advancing health and wellbeing in my hometown.”

The first team to partner with a CBD company in April was the Chicago Cubs. “When MLB opened the CBD category for its clubs, we were able to explore new partnership opportunities and offerings,” said Alex Seyferth, vice president of corporate partnerships for the Chicago Cubs. “We’re proud to be the first club to partner with a CBD company, but what was even more important to us was making sure the brand fit right. MYND DRINKS is a Chicago-based company that promotes overall well-being and helps alleviate the stresses of everyday life, just like a 1:20 a.m. Friday game at Wrigley Field.”

The partnership included multiple signage within Wrigley Field and international marketing rights in the UK later in the year.

MLB removed cannabis from its “abused drug” list in December 2019, just five months after Los Angeles Angels athlete Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room from an opioid overdose. “The opioid epidemic in our country is an issue of major concern to Major League Baseball,” said Dan Halem, MLB’s deputy commissioner and chief legal officer. “We hope that this agreement – which is based on the principles of prevention, treatment, awareness and education – will help protect the health and safety of our players.”

In February 2020, MLB announced that while players may smoke cannabis, they may not be sponsored by cannabis companies.

Other sports organizations such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) have also introduced new cannabis guidelines. Since April, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have been working on an agreement that would remove cannabis from the banned substance list and also allow players to promote and invest in cannabis companies.