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 medicine clinic that prescribes medicinal cannabis and NRL club The Dolphins might have broken the law, with Foxtel and Channel Nine forced to change their coverage.

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

Alternaleaf’s logo has been worn on the sternum of Dolphins jerseys and has been displayed prominently at Dolphins home games at Suncorp Stadium. 

While medical cannabis is not illegal in Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) doesn’t allow advertising of prescription medicines or consultations for medicinal cannabis.

The deal between Alternaleaf and the Dolphins was announced last month 

The Dolphins’ sponsorship deal with Alternaleaf is now being reviewed by the TGA, as the logos are broadcast to huge audiences via Channel Nine, Fox Sports – and being promoted at home games by the club.

‘The TGA is aware of the partnership between the Dolphins and Alternaleaf and is assessing if any material published in connection with this partnership raises concerns under the advertising requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act),’ read a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald. 

‘Partnerships between sport teams and entities involved in the supply of medicinal cannabis are not prohibited by the Act, however the advertising of medicinal cannabis, as prescription medicines, to the public is prohibited.’

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

Both NRL broadcasters, Nine and Fox Sports, have indicated that they are working to comply with the guidelines regarding showing the Alternaleaf logo during coverage.

Fox Sports’ broadcast of Friday’s game with the Broncos didn’t feature interviews with players, as coverage of their previous matches had. 

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

The Therapeutic Good Administration doesn’t allow advertising of prescription medicine or consultations for medicinal cannabis

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

‘What we are promoting is a healthcare clinic, and while there are rules around how we go about that, we have reviewed them as appropriate,’ said spokesperson Kelly King.

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

‘Alternaleaf is a healthcare clinic with more than 150,000 patients and we are promoting our expert clinicians, and ease of booking process. We do not consider promotion of our clinic itself as problematic.’