The World Surf League (WSL) announced that cbdMD will be the official sponsor of the 2019/2020 Jaws Big Wave Championships.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113 cannabinoids that have been identified in cannabis plants. It accounts for up to 40 percent of the plant's extract.
As of January 1, 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances - in or out of competition.
"WSL is always trying to push the boundaries of progression and break new ground," explains Cherie Cohen, chief revenue officer at WSL.
WSL confirmed that the partnership with cbdMD is the biggest deal ever made in the history of professional big wave surfing.
"Performance and recovery are key to surfing, especially big wave surfing, with the sport's unique challenges. This partnership with a CBD category leader will help inform consumers of CBD's benefits."
The partnership between WSL and the hemp-derived CBD oil products company marks a historical milestone.
It is the first time a consumer CBD brand has entered the professional surfing circuit as a sponsor.
Unanswered Questions
In July 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an official statement regarding products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds.
"There are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing CBD," the organization stated.
"The FDA is working to learn more about the safety of CBD and CBD-derived products, specifically the effects they could cause in the body, on special populations, and animals."
"Misleading and false claims associated with CBD products may lead consumers to not getting medical care, such as proper diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care."
Cannabidiol can be taken into the body by inhalation of cannabis - smoke or vapor - as an aerosol spray into the cheek and by mouth.
cbdMD sells tinctures, gummies, topicals, bath bombs, vape oils, and CBD pet products.
Weedmaps, an online platform that helps people find marijuana dispensaries, is already sponsoring several pro surfers and has even bought a house at Pipeline in Hawaii.
Take a look at the effects of cannabis on surfers.