Charlotte’s Web, a manufacturer and retailer of CBD products derived from hemp, has made history in October. 12, when the company was named the official CBD brand of Major League Baseball (MLB) making it the first collaboration between a hemp/cannabis brand and an official sports league. Thanks to the partnership, Charlotte’s Web products are now accessible for MLB players to help with recovery in focus, sleep, and recovery cycles. The first product being the Daily Edge tincture. Its Daily Edge tincture falls under its SPORT line and will have MLB’s logo on the bottle. Charlotte’s Web Cbd Daily Edge tincture underwent specific testing to be sure it meets MLB scientific and non-banned substances standards.
It is Certified for Sport by NSF, an independent third-party auditing company that focuses on quality and safety standards. It is the first hemp-derived, broad-spectrum tincture to be awarded this distinction. Furthermore, the collaboration that Charlotte’s web has with MLB is continuing to help normalize hemp or cannabis as a part of U.S. culture, and offers a fresh path for companies that deal in cannabis looking to increase their brand’s presence and reach a wider populace. Jared Stanley, co-founder and chief operating officer of Charlotte’s Web The company’s collaboration with MLB will give it an “megaphone we can use to educate people on what CBD is and what it does.” Stanley was interviewed by Cannabis Business Times to discuss the company’s groundbreaking partnership with MLB and MLB, how everything came to fruition and the potential of Charlotte’s Web.
Zach Mentz: What was it that drew Charlotte’s Web to sign a partnership with MLB specifically? And how did those discussions begin?
Jared Stanley: Major League Baseball is a historical first-timer. They have been the first major professional sports league to join with an CBD company and in the summer of this year, they were the first team to announce they are open to partnering by the help of a CBD company. It was a clear indication that they’re committed to providing alternatives to their players and committed to the next phase of health and wellness for their athletes. Any CBD brand that wants to partner with MLB must be able to show top-of-the-line quality. Particularly, any hemp extracts that is approved by MLB will first have to meet the strict standards of NSF International and gain designation as NSF Certified for Sport to ensure it was free of the 280 prohibited substances.
The shared interest in quality and wellness led to a collaboration that was formed between MLB with Charlotte’s Web easy and a win. Beyond our shared goal of providing plants-based wellness options for players and their fans, we’re focus on serving our communities. We’re looking forward to constructive ways to collaborate in projects that are focus on doing good for the local community.
ZM Q: What were some of the obstacles, be it logistical, legal, etc.–that you faced in making this partnership real? How difficult was it?
JSON: The biggest hurdle to overcome, if it can be termed that was the creation of an item that would meet the rigorous standards needed to obtain that NSF Certified for Sport distinction. This wasn’t a big issue for us because we’ve driven by science and high quality standards since the beginning of our existence and were already doing or had completed the necessary research studies. In reality, these research studies were the catalysts that resulted in that Daily Edge product becoming the first broad-spectrum CBD product NSF Certified for Sport.
We began by developing an item that was suitable enough to meet the needs of Charlotte and thousands of people like her. The same quality standards are still in place today, and we believe that if they’re sufficient for Charlotte and her friends, they’re also suitable to be good enough for Aaron Judge. RELATED: Charlotte’s Web CBD Reflects on 10 Years in the CBD Industry
ZM: What can this partnership benefit Charlotte’s Web and MLB, and what do the things you are most thrilled about?
CSS: We’re most excited to bring botanical wellness onto the national stage, and in front of people who might not have thought of CBD as a possible option for their daily routines for wellness. As a part of MLB we have access to an immense megaphone we can leverage to inform the public about the benefits of CBD is and what it can do. Information about CBD for the team, its players trainers, coaches, and office staff and also for fans, is essential. The need for transparency in CBD research and information is essential to educate people seeking to improve their health how to choose the most reliable CBD products, their effectiveness and where they originate from, and how best to utilize them.
ZM: Can this agreement set the stage for hemp or cannabis companies working with professional sports leagues moving into the future? What are the steps?
JSON: The MLB decision was a major change in professional sports and is expecting to be replicate by other leagues, base on our opinion. The forward-thinking decision of the most storied professional sport leagues in the U.S. signals the value of CBD for the masses across the country. With no federal regulations and the leagues themselves are establishing guidelines and rules for their athletes which all consumers can profit from. I would like to think that our work provides a framework that puts quality, safety, and education as the main elements of our partnership, and for any league that wants to collaborate with an CBD firm, I would suggest they adhere to the same principles.
Additionally, the significance of offering a natural wellness alternative to our nation’s – and the world’s best athletes isn’t an effective marketing strategy or a passing trend it’s a significant future step in how athletes take care of themselves and the way we take care of athletes. The use of natural botanical remedies to help athletes who excel when under stress, recover from training, stay focused on the field and rest like a pro is likely to become the norm in the near future. And it’s true that our agreement with MLB is a blueprint for a first-class partnership. It’s build on the highest quality of products and complemented by our goal to provide an alternative to the benefits of botanical wellness.
ZM: Daily Edge is the first product that was launched within Charlotte’s Web’s SPORT line. What was the motivation behind the introduction of this line of products and when will consumers be able to anticipate gummies, topicals, and sprays?
JSON: Understanding the benefit hemp extract can bring to many consumers, we saw the chance to extend into sports as an appropriate way to cater to an entirely new group of customers. Not only athletes, but also fans too. Further SPORT products are expecting to launch in the fall and summer of 2023. Each product will be subject to similar NSF certification procedure. We are grateful to NSF for their determination and their recognition of the need to improve quality of CBD and also to make the potential of these goods for the athletes.
It is important to note that the NSF Certified for Sport distinction is a certifying mark and provides us with a competitive edge on the market. We have now the playbook and the approved NSF extract ingredient to fuel the development of our products and take them to a completely new customer base. We’re excited to see what this portfolio can bring out.
We’ll be feature in pharmacies as an option for health plans offered by employers, We’ll also be present at increasing numbers of sporting events. This isn’t just restrict to the US as more and more customers around the world will begin to discover Charlotte’s Web CBD locally. We’re thrilling about what is coming
ZM: What do these partnerships mean for Charlotte’s web moving forward? What’s next for Charlotte’s Web?
CSS: The distinctions as CBD from the official CBD of Major League Baseball and the first and only hemp extract that is NSF Certified for Sport are massive proofs of our superior quality. The famous MLB batter’s image on the packaging makes customers understand that we’re an industry market leader and that, with the help of our partnership with us, we’ll be in a position to inform millions of fans on the benefits of utilizing the benefits of a plant-based diet for health.
Charlotte’s Web will now enjoy the best marketing presence in MLB’s most prestigious events, including The All-Star Game, Postseason, and World Series through marketing, communications, and media activations that link with the league’s vast 175 million fan base with 180 million followers on social media as well as 111 million TV viewers along with millions of electronic users. The two organizations will collaborate in a joint, high-impact media strategy that includes local reach through club channels, bespoke brand engagements, ticket sales, and fan experiences that are unique, and aligning to fitness-related events all throughout the year. CBD Education is also a prioritization that will come to fruition through an CBD wellness program that will educate athletes, coaches doctors, coaches, and other people involved in the health and wellness of the business.
Charlotte’s Web and MLB will also join forces by implementing a social impact plan which demonstrates our common values. What’s coming up? There will be new SPORT products to launch in 2023. Consumers will begin to see us in unexpected places. We’ve made partnerships that will bring Charlotte’s Web everywhere consumers are seeking a natural health alternative. We’ll be at high-end liquor stores as a viable alternative for those seeking peace but not in search of intoxication.