MX Sports Addresses CBD Sponsorship For 2019
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With the start of the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship set to start, MX Sports has made it a point to address the issue of CBD supplement sponsorship for riders and teams. It’s undeniable that CBD (Cannabidiol) is a modern-day cash crop, thanks to scientific studies that show the health benefits from use, along with the changes in local and federal laws that allow it to be grown and sold without issue. Cannabis industry analysts the Brightfield Group project that the CBD market will be a $22 billion dollar industry by 2022 and luckily for motocross, CBD brands have taken an interest in motocross. Dean Wilson and Chad Reed have both signed sponsorship agreements with Ignite CBD and cbdMD, respectively, and we’ve even received had Ignite as the title sponsor at our recent Trans Am Vet Classic motocross event.
But the investment from an industry that is still shrouded in federal laws that restrict production of the plant and distribution has come with some controversy as NBC, the official broadcast partner for the Monster Energy Supercross Series and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, has strictly forbid any sort of CBD products to be advertised on their network. This issue started this year, when Dean Wilson was told to cover the Ignite logos on his gear and graphics at early rounds of the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross Series when the bike was on the track, then later had the rule expanded to any sort of Ignite logos in the pit area. Rather than deal with the specifics of the issue mid-season, Feld Motorsports issued a rule that there can be no marketing of any kind for CBD products in the pits, on the rider or bike, or in a television interview at any Monster Energy Supercross Series event. However, riders are still allowed to have CBD sponsors and promote them away from the Monster Energy Supercross Series, and they can use the products at all times because CBD is not a banned substance on the WADA Anti-Doping list (THC use, however, is banned in competition).
The rules announced by MX Sports for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is a little more open for CBD sponsorship and activation, but there are still some restrictions. MX Sports will allow any rider or team to have a hemp-derived CBD company as a sponsor and to advertise the products within the pit area, such as displays or on the transporter rig. It’s important to note that it can only be a hemp-derived CBD company, and “by a licensed grower in a manner consistent with Farm Bill guidelines and associated federal and state regulations. All other CBD products, produced in any other manner, remain a prohibited Schedule I substance under federal criminal law and thus remain illegal.” The restrictions are focused on the track or on NBC’s cameras, as there cannot be any CBD company branding on a rider’s gear or motorcycle when on the track, nor any mention of a CBD company during an on-camera television interview. And yes, riders are still able to use any CBD product thanks to clearance from USADA and can mention it at any time away from the television camera.
The “by a licensed grower in a manner consistent with Farm Bill guidelines and associated federal and state regulations. All other CBD products, produced in any other manner, remain a prohibited Schedule I substance under federal criminal law and thus remain illegal,” element is something that must be pointed out, as it will keep some companies, from being allowed in the pits at all.
This is a step in the right direction for CBD companies coming into motocross, thanks to the publicity a team can give a company within the confines of their pit area. We’re of the belief that once the laws are clarified, there will be far fewer issues with CBD sponsorship at the races.
The press release from MX Sports is posted in full below…
The issue has arisen with regard to the efficacy of CBD Product sponsorship of riders and/or teams associated with the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Currently CBD product sale, use, advertising and promotion is governed by both state and federal regulation, on a state-by-state basis. In December, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized cannabidiol (CBD) products derived exclusively from hemp, a member of the cannabis plant family that does not contain more than 0.3 percent of THC (the compound most commonly associated with the psychoactive effects of “getting high”). The condition for this deregulation is that the hemp be produced by a licensed grower in a manner consistent with Farm Bill
guidelines and associated federal and state regulations. All other CBD products, produced in any other manner, remain a prohibited Schedule I substance under federal criminal law and thus remain illegal.
Although some states legalize all CBD-related products, most states have not. Hence, despite the change in federal law, current broadcast network standards and practices continue to prohibit the in-broadcast advertising or promotion of all CBD products.
Accordingly, until further notice, the signage and promotion of all CBD products on or by riders, team members or their machines remains prohibited. Riders and team members are prohibited from having CBD-related logos or other promotional displays on their person, uniform, gear or motorcycle, or on any other item that may appear in-broadcast. No in-broadcast visual or verbal mention of CBD-related products will be permitted. This restriction, however, does not prohibit riders and teams from securing hemp-derived CBD Product sponsors, so long as the aforesaid in-broadcast regulations are complied with. Riders are free to obtain hemp-derived CDB Product sponsors only and may display their logos on their team rigs or in their display areas, make mentions in off-air interviews, and otherwise promote their sponsor. All other CBD Products remain restricted and may not be promoted. The intent of this policy is to prohibit the in- broadcast signage or promotion of CDB Products only – not to limit or restrict riders from obtaining legal
hemp-derived CBD Product sponsorship.
Riders will be required to cover or remove any logo or image in violation of this policy. Failure to comply will result in removal of the rider and/or team member from the race program. In addition, sanctions may be applied pursuant to the AMA Pro Racing Rules for Professional Motocross Competition for any willful or reckless violation of this policy.
MX Sports Pro Racing understands that this policy differs from that recently issued by AMA for Supercross application and urges riders and teams to make themselves aware of the distinction between the two policies.
Riders and teams are responsible for seeking their own legal counsel with regard to their association with CBD products and promotions, and MX Sports Pro Racing makes no legal representations with regard the legality of same.
