Aurora Cannabis, UFC join up to study CBD

The two will research hemp-derived CBD for athlete recovery and wellness

Aurora Cannabis (TSE: ACB) and the UFC want to know how cannabidiol (CBD) can be of benefit to athletes. The two have entered into a partnership that will see them lead research of hemp-derived CBD products for athlete recovery and wellness and is reportedly a multi-year, multimillion-dollar arrangement.

The two entities will conduct the research out of the UFC’s Las Vegas institute, where they will create clinical studies to evaluate the cannabis compound. They will explore how it can be used for inflammation and pain management, as well as for injury and exercise recovery, as well as for mental wellbeing. The studies will be led by Dr. Jason Dyck, a professor at the University of Alberta and also a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Medicine. Dyck is also an independent director for Aurora, advising on the company’s scientific efforts.

CBD already has a lot of support behind it, both in the scientific community, as well as through anecdotal evidence of its benefits. However, there is still a global push for more data and Aurora is more than happy to lead the way. The company’s CEO, Terry Booth, said in a statement, “This global partnership places focus squarely on the health and well-being of UFC’s talented and highly trained athletes. The Aurora-UFC research partnership creates a global platform to launch targeted educational and awareness campaigns, while creating numerous opportunities to accelerate our global CBD business.”

UFC President Dana White adds, “Since the day we opened the Performance Institute, our primary goal was to offer UFC athletes the best possible training, nutrition, and recovery services. This partnership with Aurora is an extension of that goal, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with Aurora to find new ways to improve the health and safety of athletes who compete in UFC.”