Why NRL team’s world-first marijuana sponsorship might have broken the law – as Channel Nine and Foxtel are forced to change their TV coverage

The sponsorship deal between a drug clinic that prescribes medicinal cannabis and NRL club The Dolphins is said to have broken the law, with Foxtel and Channel Nine forced to change their reporting.

The Dolphins last month became the first ever NRL club to sign a medical cannabis sponsorship, announcing a two-year partnership with Alternaleaf – Australia’s largest plant medicine clinic.

The Alternaleaf logo is worn on the sternum of Dolphins jerseys and is prominently displayed at Dolphins home games at Suncorp Stadium.

Although medicinal cannabis is not illegal in Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) does not allow the advertising of prescription medicines or medicinal cannabis consultations.

The deal between Alternaleaf and the Dolphins was announced last month

The Dolphins’ sponsorship deal with Alternaleaf is now under review by the TGA as the logos are broadcast to mass audiences via Channel Nine and Fox Sports and promoted by the club during home games.

“The TGA is aware of the partnership between the Dolphins and Alternaleaf and is assessing whether any material published in connection with this partnership raises a concern under the advertising requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act),” a statement said to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Partnerships between sports teams and entities involved in the supply of medical cannabis are not prohibited by law, but advertising of medical cannabis, as prescription drugs, to the public is prohibited.”

The law applies to ‘all publicly visible media such as stadiums, sports jerseys, billboards, magazines, websites and social media’.

Both NRL broadcasters, Nine and Fox Sports, have said they are working to comply with guidelines around displaying the Alternaleaf logo during coverage.

Fox Sports’ broadcast of Friday’s game with the Broncos did not include interviews with players, as coverage of their previous games did.

However, Nine did air a post-match interview with a Dolphins player in which the Alternaleaf logo was visible on his jersey.

The Therapeutic Good Administration does not allow advertising of prescription medications or medical cannabis consultations

Montu, a supplier of medicinal cannabis products, believes the partnership does not breach the TGA’s advertising laws.

“What we are promoting is a health care clinic, and while there are rules about how we go about that, we have reviewed them as appropriate,” said spokesperson Kelly King.

‘The TGA has confirmed to us in writing that partnerships between sports teams and entities involved in the supply of therapeutic goods are not prohibited by law.

‘Alternaleaf is a healthcare clinic with over 150,000 patients and we promote our expert doctors and easy booking process. We do not find promotion of our clinic itself to be problematic.’