Toronto Cannabis Shop Destroys Bong Shaped Like World Cup Trophy After FIFA Cease-and-Desist Letter

A Toronto, Ontario, Canada cannabis shop last week received a legal notice from FIFA for copyright infringement over a bong resembling the World Cup trophy, Reuters reports. The shop, Cosmic Charlie’s, had sold one of the bongs to a single customer for C$50 and then received a cease-and-desist letter from attorneys on FIFA’s behalf.  

After receiving the notice, the owners, Sean and Charles Kady, decided to destroy the one bong that remained in stock. The bong, made of silicone, was destroyed with a mallet and scissors. The owners sent the attorney proof the bong was “unusable and unsellable,” Sean told The Athletic.  

“The cost of breaking one bong definitely could never buy me all the PR that we’ve gotten just from carrying this thing for a ⁠short period of time. I never expected to go viral, obviously, for carrying it. And I’ll never forget the time FIFA gave me a red card.” — Sean Kady to Reuters 

Sean told the Canadian Press that he intends to frame the cease-and-desist letter from FIFA. 

“I’m just deciding which part,” he said. “It’s quite long, to be honest.” 

Charlie told The Athletic that the brothers “didn’t really investigate too deeply about trademarks and thought it was a good way to lean into the fun, and thought we would get some nice conversations with fans in the store.”