Cornbread Hemp announces THC beverage sponsorship with University of Louisville

The University of Louisville has agreed to a sponsorship deal that will make it the first-ever school in Division I college athletics to sponsor a THC beverage.

The news was announced Friday morning by Cornbread Hemp (a friend of the program, as some of you might know from listening to the radio show), which is a national leader in the hemp industry and is based out of Louisville. Founded in 2019, Cornbread Hemp has created award-winning THC-infused seltzers, which are federally legal for consumption in the state of Kentucky.

“This partnership isn’t just a logo on a banner,” Eric Zipperle, CEO and co-founder of Cornbread Hemp, said in a press release. “This is the beginning of a relationship that reflects Louisville’s spirit of innovation and hospitality.”

This isn’t the first sports-related sponsorship for Cornbread Hemp, either. They entered into a partnership with professional soccer clubs Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC back in May. Now, they’re making a move into the money-making world that is college football.

Cornbread Hemp currently offers four different flavors of its THC seltzer: raspberry limeade, peach iced tea, salted watermelon, and blueberry breeze. All beverages are “infused with 5mg of pure THC and natural fruit flavors.” You might be wondering how this is legal, considering marijuana is not recreationally legal in Kentucky. They answer that question in the FAQ section of the company’s website.

“THC drinks are legal because of the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp-derived products with less than 0.3% THC legal to ship across America, including THC infused drinks and THC beverages. As long as THC drinks are made from hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC by weight, they are federally legal.”

Of note, a member of Cornbread Hemp’s PR team told KSR that this is an advertising-only partnership between Cornbread Hemp and Louisville, as on-premise sales are not currently allowed by state law.

Cornbread Hemp, which also sells gummies, oils, creams, and more, is looking to bring THC beverages into mainstream American sports culture. They’re off to a good start in the city of Louisville. Will the University of Kentucky be next?