NRL team makes history by bringing a marijuana company on as a sponsor – and it could be the solution to the code’s biggest problem

The Dolphins have become the first NRL team to adopt a medical cannabis company as a sponsor, with the expansion club sporting the Alternaleaf brand on the front of their jersey this season.

And it comes after NRL Immortal Andrew Johns previously called on the federal government to fund research into the use of medicinal cannabis to treat concussion and head trauma in sport.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has long been a supporter of the NRL’s illegal drug policy and the ongoing fight against doping and drug use in sport, making the partnership seem unusual at first glance.

But the sponsorship deal is not a green light for players to use marijuana recreationally.

The legalized marijuana industry has grown steadily in Australia, with athletes turning to non-mind-altering CBD products to treat a range of symptoms (stock image)

Medical marijuana focuses primarily on the use of products containing cannabidiol, which are not smoked, do not produce a high, and provide a range of health benefits for athletes, including potentially treating the symptoms of concussion.

These products do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in the cannabis strains that get the user stoned.

The effects of head impacts on past and present players – including the onset of the fatal brain disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy – are a major problem for the code and other contact sports around the world.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from the list of banned substances in 2017 and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) followed suit.

CBD contains plant compounds called cannabinoids that can interact with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) and provide benefits including appetite control, pain response, sleep patterns, and inflammatory response.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has actively spoken out against performance-enhancing and recreational drugs in the past

THC, the active ingredient in recreational marijuana, is still banned and all CBD products must contain no more than 0.02 percent so that users do not experience mind-altering effects.

Athletes can use prescription cannabis with higher THC levels, but they will need an exemption from WADA and ASADA.

Some famous athletes who have used CBD during their careers include heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, UFC fighter Nate Diaz, NBA star Klay Thompson, and American football star Megan Rapinoe.

NRL superstar Johns also turned to the product after suffering from seizures during his retirement. Since being introduced to CBD by Levin Health, he has not had a seizure since.

“It’s been a life changer,” Johns said in 2023.

“I haven’t felt such clarity in years, and my body hasn’t felt this good either. I am seizure free.

“I still take traditional medicine for it, but I also take the CBD oil, which I talked to my professor about and he was all for it.

Andrew Johns has not had seizures since he started using medical marijuana

AFL coach Damien Hardwick is sore from his playing days and is using medicinal cannabis to treat inflammation

Wallaby Drew Mitchell developed anxiety when he retired and is using medicinal cannabis to reclaim his life

Johns sits on Levin Health’s advisory board, along with other sporting greats including basketball player Lauren Jackson, AFL coaches Alastair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick, jockey Damien Oliver and hockey champion Jenn Morris.

The company has submitted a proposal to the Federal Senate calling for the use of cannabinoids to be explored as a treatment option for concussions in sports.

Several other high-profile names in sports have also been linked to CBD use.

Former three-time Richmond premiership winner coach Hardwick is using medicinal cannabis to manage pain from his football career, while former Wallaby Drew Mitchell is using it to treat anxiety.

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said Alternaleaf was a good fit for the NRL’s newest brand.

“We are very pleased to partner with a company like Alternaleaf that has a strong commitment to health and wellness,” he said.

“We welcome Alternaleaf to the Dolphins sponsorship family and look forward to working with them to continue to grow their brand in the Australian health landscape.”