Missouri hit the ground running when the state legalized adult-use cannabis is TK, building off their medical marijuana program. Kansas City is home to over 40 dispensary options for consumers, highlighting the Show Me State’s penchant for craft and pizzazz. Whether you’re new to cannabis, or an experienced connoisseur looking for a new dispensary experience, […]

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

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

“The Kansas City Royals are proud to be just the second MLB team to form a partnership with a company like Pure Spectrum,” said executive vice president, chief commercial and community impact officer of the Kansas City Royals, Sarah Tourville. “For this organization, this opportunity gives us a chance to support a brand with Kansas City ties and to educate the community on the benefits of CBD.”

The partnership also included the launch of the Pure Spectrum Lodge, which opened on June 2 at the team’s Kauffman Stadium. “Equipped with fans and misters, the space is designed to give fans a place to relax and watch the game while learning about the positive effects of CBD,” a press release stated.

According to Startland News, Pure Spectrum’s CEO Dan Huerter is a native to the area. “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. “To be able to work with such an iconic organization and to be a part of promoting health and wellness in my hometown community is an incredible honor.”

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

The partnership included multiple signage within Wrigley Field, international marketing rights in the United Kingdom later in the year.

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

In February 2020, the MLB announced that players were allowed to smoke cannabis but couldn’t be sponsored by cannabis companies. 

Other sports agencies such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) have also embraced new cannabis policies. As of April, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are working on a deal that would remove cannabis from its list of banned substances and also allow players to promote and invest in cannabis companies.

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An estimated 113 million viewers watched Super Bowl LVII to see if the Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs would win this year (the second-most watched since Super Bowl XLIX in 2015). Among those viewers were countless cannabis consumers, but cannabis sales took a slight dip in comparison to last year.

A cannabis checkout purchase averages at around $84.61, but sales from this past weekend saw a 4% drop in sales.

According to data collected by Chicago-based Fyllo, pre-rolls were the most popular products purchased this weekend at 37% of sales. In a statement to Forbes, Fyllo founder Chad Bronstein explained that the reason pre-rolls sold so well is because they are “the cheapest product in dispensaries.”

“We see this sensitivity to pricing most significant among persons aged 25 to 75, where consumer spending this year around the Super Bowl decreased significantly,” Bronstein added. Among age demographics, Fyllo also found that Gen Z consumers purchased rose considerably on Feb. 12, especially with buyers between 21 to 24 (a 10% increase from that age group).

The second most popular product category was described as “dispensary gear” by Fyllo, which saw a 20% increase this year. This was followed by “plants” at a 200% increase, and beverages at a 39% increase. Both topicals and edibles dropped in sales, with a respective 36% and 25% decrease. Bronstein believes that this is “potentially a response to pricing, driven by higher manufacturing costs, especially for those looking to optimize the cost of their high.”

Fyllo also found that while west coast sales dipped, eastern and southern states’ cannabis sales increased. Sales in Florida increased significantly by 27%, while Maine sales increased by 17%, and Arkansas increased by 7%.

While cannabis sales dropped slightly in previous years, it didn’t hamper the cannabis-related festivities of offered in Arizona where the Super Bowl took place this year. 

Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s recent move into Arizona led with the launch of Ricky Williams’s Highsman brand. “Our expansion into Arizona is made possible through our retail partnership with Trulieve, and Abundant Organics, whose organic living soil cultivation techniques produce some of the cleanest and most flavorful flower I’ve tried,” Williams announced last month. “Both partners clearly see the Highsman vision and share the same enthusiasm for physical and mental healing as I do. Highsman is for anyone seeking greatness, mental and spiritual well-being.”

Trulieve’s CEO, Kim Rivers, was proud to partner with the former NFL player. “Trulieve is excited to launch this limited-time exclusive partnership with legendary NFL player Ricky Williams in Arizona, just weeks before the Super Bowl will be hosted in the state,” said Rivers. “Ricky was well-known for his belief in the power of cannabis during his playing days, and the Highsman brand reflects his values and passion for cannabis. We are proud to launch Highsman products in the Arizona market.”

HARA Brands partnered with Rolling Stone Live this weekend to celebrate the Super Bowl as well. The brand’s CEO and co-founder, Bryan Gerber, expressed his excitement for what this means for the industry. “We are extremely proud to represent the cannabis community at such a high-profile event during one of the biggest weekends in sports and entertainment,” said Gerber. “It’s a testament to how far this industry has come, and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this exclusive experience alongside some of the most successful brands and talented individuals.”

WNBA star athlete Brittney Griner attended this year’s Superbowl with her wife Cherelle Griner. Following a 10-month battle for her freedom after being imprisoned in Russia for possessing a small amount of cannabis, Brittney was recently named Arizonan of the Year by Arizona Republic.

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Within mere days after the Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 to legalize adult-use cannabis, an ambitious entertainment district project is unfolding. Gladstone, Missouri-based Besa Hospitality Group announced on Nov. 9 a new “cannabis entertainment district” to open along the Missouri River, serving people who live in the Kansas City metro area. 

The multimillion-dollar project will be dubbed the Smokey River Entertainment District. The website features a countdown to April 20, 2023.

“We have an opportunity to showcase cannabis and the acceptance of cannabis in our everyday lives. We’re normalizing cannabis through hospitality,” Joey Pintozzi, Vice President of Operations and Marketing told CBS affiliate KC TV 5. “This is an entertainment venue first and foremost. Cannabis just happens to be part of that experience. People will be free to legally consume in some of the venues and enjoy being themselves.”

Fox 4 reports that Pintozzi joined entrepreneur Jack Mitchell, and both are already involved in Missouri’s medical cannabis industry. Developers expect the first phase to cost around $30-50 million to get things started. Future development that could bring the total cost much higher.

The concept will include an amphitheater, two indoor entertainment venues with capacity levels that range from 500 to 2,000 people, festival grounds, food and beverage concepts, corporate event spaces, and wedding sites.

Smokey River Entertainment District is about 20 minutes away from downtown Kansas City in the village of River Bend. The multi-use space will provide the local area with thousands of jobs and host some of the top names in music, comedy, and the arts according to developers.

The effort is a joint project with BesaMe Wellness, a medical cannabis dispensary in the state.  Last Tuesday, voters in the state approved Amendment 3 with a 53% voting in favor of regulating adult-use cannabis.

“This is an incredible opportunity for ALL communities,” said Jack Mitchell, CEO of the Besa Group of Companies. “More than amphitheater and entertainment venues, this facility will help us develop the region’s music, hospitality, cannabis and culture economies together.”

The project will roll out in two phases: The first will open in the spring of 2023 and will include the festival grounds, food and beverage concepts, and a 1,500-seat live music venue.

The second phase will open in the spring of 2024 and will include the Smokey River Amphitheatre which will feature a 14,000-person capacity.

“Welcome to the Smokey River Entertainment District,” the website reads. “A first of its kind in the nation multi-use development where you have the freedom to be yourself. Nestled along the banks of the mighty Missouri river just 20 minutes east of downtown Kansas City, we invite you to come out and experience what the future of night life and entertainment holds. From private events, concerts, dining, leisure, and one of a kind experiences – we’re hosting it all. Be on the lookout for upcoming events and announcements, and don’t forget to follow us on social media as well as join our mailing list for the latest information. Grab your paddle and double check your maps. We’ll see you downstream.

Similar efforts to establish a cannabis village take place in West Hollywood, California, where cannabis consumption lounges are approved. The geographically small city plans to rebrand itself as a cannabis mecca, or as “Emerald Village”—a name coined by a cannabis trade group of the same name. 

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Dispensaries are expected to open by mid-October. Here’s what to bring, and what you’ll find there.

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