Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports globally. And a major cannabis operator in the United States wants in on the opportunity.

‍What’s happening:‍

• United States based cannabis operator Trulieve Cannabis (CSE: TRUL) has launched a new partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball to become a sponsor of pickleball tournaments throughout the United States of America
  

Why it matters:‍

• With new states such as Ohio beginning to roll out adult use cannabis and growing speculation that cannabis may finally be rescheduled at the federal level, there is a growing optimism for the future of cannabis in the United States
  
• Trulieve will become the first company ever to be an exclusive cannabis sponsor of professional pickleball tournaments in the United States of America
  

By the numbers:‍

• Trulieve will sponsor 12 pickleball tournaments as part of the new partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball
  

Going deeper:‍

• Trulieve has been a first mover in American cannabis, previously becoming the first company ever in Florida to obtain a medical sales license and be allowed to legally operate
  
• Trulieve currently operates hundreds of medical cannabis locations and adult use dispensaries across multiple different states, including a significant presence in Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania
  

The intrigue:‍

• Pickleball leagues and teams have been landing major investors of late, including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Mark Cuban, Vince Vaughan and even alcohol giant Anheuser-Bush

‍