Cannabis adds an extra layer of excitement to watching football.
According to a recent survey by Pickswise, University of Oregon fans have earned the distinction of being the most cannabis-friendly college football fanbase, with 57.14% of respondents admitting to indulging in adult-use cannabis at least once a month.
Pickswise primarily focuses on analyzing college football statistics for sports bettors, covering data across major sports associations such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. Recently, they awarded 22 recognitions as part of the Power Five Fandom MVP Awards to college football fanbases. These awards span various aspects of fan engagement, from the Biggest Tailgaters (University of South Carolina) to the Most Rabid Fanbase (Arizona State University), showcasing the unique characteristics of each fanbase. This information was gathered through a survey of over 3,000 football fans. The “Biggest Potheads MVP Award” from Pickswise went to the University of Oregon.
Andrew Wilsher, Managing Editor of Pickswise, explained, “We were interested in learning more about the specific hobbies, habits, and quirks of college football fanbases, so last month we surveyed 3,200 college football fans across all Power Five fandoms.”
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Changes in cannabis regulations in college sports are also noteworthy. An NCAA panel has raised the THC threshold for a positive drug test and recommended removing cannabis from the list of banned substances. During its meeting on February 22-23, 2022, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) aligned the THC threshold with levels established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), increasing it from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter for student-athletes.
Eugene, Oregon, historically a haven for progressive cannabis laws, stands out as the top consumer of cannabis among all college football fanbases, as per the analysis.
Wilsher noted, “The state of Oregon was one of the first to legalize recreational marijuana, so it’s not overly surprising that they’ve edged out fanbases from states where it’s not a legal recreational activity.” Oregon was also an early adopter of cannabis decriminalization back in 1973.
Oregon fans are eagerly gearing up to support Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix and wide receiver Troy Franklin. Their return and the high expectations surrounding the team have put Ducks fans in high spirits.
Via Pickwise.com:
The Pacific Northwest is sort of the OG area for marijuana legalization, and in Oregon, may pair well with a beer at a Ducks football game. 57.14% of those surveyed said they use marijuana at least once per month, making them our “Biggest Potheads.” Hopefully, they can find their way home from the stadium.
Oregon-based fans received another accolade: Oregon State fans in Corvallis earned the MVP Award for the Most LGBTQ Fans, with 39% of the fanbase identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Cannabis also plays a role for medical purposes among players in college and the NFL. Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and former NFL lineman Rob Sims collaborated with Harvard University in 2019 to study the effectiveness of cannabis for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and pain management.
The NFL, in February 2022, announced a $1 million research funding award to two medical research teams at the University of California San Diego and the University of Regina. These studies will explore the use of cannabinoids for pain management and neuroprotection from concussion in elite football players, respectively.
Pickswise highlights the unique characteristics of college football fanbases, and Oregon continues to uphold progressive views regarding cannabis within its fan community.
