Which sports fans smoke weed the most? (Note: It’s neither baseball nor basketball)

Although The Smiths frontman Johnny Marr once said America’s pastime is only worthwhile when cannabis is involved, many baseball fans disagree. Baseball fans are the least likely to use marijuana of any major sport, according to a recent survey. Fans of eSports, UFC and Formula 1 racing had a much friendlier relationship with cannabis.

A Morning Consult survey surveyed between 252 and 1,269 self-proclaimed fans of several major sports and asked how often they use vices such as tobacco and cannabis. Although several sports leagues ban the use and promotion of cannabis, the survey shows that professional athletes are presented with growing branding opportunities through the use of marijuana and CBD products.

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About 35% of eSports and UFC fans smoke or use marijuana regularly. Racing fans were also attracted to cannabis: at least 30% of F1 and MotoGP fans were regular users. Fans of America’s four major sports leagues – NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL – were less cannabis-friendly than fans of most other sports.

Courtesy of Morning Consult

Sports organizations do not allow players to sign sponsorship deals with marijuana companies, although professional athletes are free to do so with beer and liquor companies. But leagues have recently opened up to using and promoting CBD among players. Major golfers such as Bubba Watson, Charley Hoffman, Scott Piercy and Lucas Glover have signed CBD-related sponsorship deals without penalty.

It’s easy to understand what motivates players to sign such deals – the U.S. CBD market generated $4.1 billion in sales last year, reports cannabis research firm Brighfield Group. Only racing athletes join professional golfers who have permission to promote CBD products. However, Sports Business Journal reported in July that the MLS may soon allow teams to sign CBD corporate sponsorships.

Courtesy of Morning Consult

A recent NFL analysis concluded that “CBD is a promising agent […] The extent of its use in the United States exceeds the evidence.” This lack of evidence appears to be the main conflict traditional sports leagues have regarding cannabis or CBD products. NBA commissioner Adam Silver added: “As we change our policies, we have to be very careful because we are clearly sending a message to young people.”

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While a significant portion of most fan bases consume cannabis, leagues would currently prefer to forego potential sponsorship money.

“As much as I would love to sell so many categories and allow our clubs to sell so many categories to make money, you start looking at health and wellness,” said a top sponsorship executive at a major U.S -Sports League told Morning Consult. “There is a whole other part of the organization, including doctors, that is studying the effects of this product. And at this point we are looking into the matter, but nothing is imminent.”