• by Steve Ellwanger , July 21, 2020

In a partnership with the United Soccer League, Functional Remedies’ Synchronicity becomes the first hemp oil brand to sponsor a major sports league.

The four-year deal announced today will give Synchronicity visibility to USL’s fan base at stadiums, where LED signage will be visible on live coverage by ESPN.

The largest professional soccer organization in North America, USL’s membership includes 47 professional and nearly 200 amateur/youth clubs.

Negotiated by Premier Partnerships, the USL partnership with Synchronicity began with talks in February.

The deal “literally puts us in the major leagues,” says Functional Remedies CEO Andrew Campbell.

Asked whether Synchronicity will advertise on ESPN during soccer games, Campbell says, “As of now, we are still pondering that decision. We will be on the LED boards at nationally broadcasted games.”

The company’s first foray in the pro sports world was a sponsorship of PGA golfer Scott McCarron.

The sponsorship follows the recent launch of the Synchronicity brand name and its campaign to explain to consumers the difference between full-spectrum hemp oil and CBD. While CBD is just one component of the hemp plant, full-spectrum hemp oil uses the entire plant—including its CBD.

“We are always educating consumers on the reality given the noise in this category,” says Campbell.

Under current Food & Drug Administration regulations, it is illegal to add CBD to beverages or food while making health claims.

Functional Remedies says that its products are doctor-recommended but that it does not make specific health claims about full-spectrum hemp oil.

In a report to Congress earlier this month, the FDA provided an update on its testing of products containing CBD.

Of the 82 tincture/oil products tested, just 56 had the amount of CBD indicated on the label, while six were found to contain less than 80% of the indicated amount of CBD.