California Brand Cookies Lands First-Ever NCAA Cannabis Sponsorship With University Of So-Cal Deal
In an unprecedented move for collegiate sports sponsorships, the California-based cannabis brand Cookies has secured a three-year partnership with the University of Southern California (USC), marking the first time a cannabis company has officially sponsored an NCAA team. The deal positions Cookies’ branding on USC merchandise and throughout the iconic Coliseum during games as a bold move for the university and the cannabis industry at large.
Cookies’ CBD Products Pioneering NCAA Entry
As reported by Lester Black in SFGATE, Cookies’ entry into NCAA sponsorship was spearheaded by its founder and CEO, Gilbert “Berner” Milam Jr., who noted that the deal is an improbable milestone achieved amidst stringent advertising restrictions faced by cannabis companies across major platforms. The NCAA, traditionally conservative in its advertising partners, still lists marijuana as a prohibited partner in official guidelines. However, the deal …