TGA assessing Dolphins and Alternaleaf partnership, as cannabis advertising under fire

The Dolphins covered up the Alternaleaf logo with white tape on Friday night. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Dolphins have made attempts to cover the logo of partner Alternaleaf in sweltering Darwin conditions.

White tape could be seen on the chest of Dolphins players when they took to the field but it was missing from many jerseys by the end of the game against the Eels, which the Redcliffe-based team won 44 points to 16.

A club spokesperson said the decision to cover the Alternaleaf logo came from advice given to the Dolphins as legal action against the company continues.

On Thursday the Therapeutic Goods Administration announced it had commenced Federal Court proceedings against Alternaleaf, company Montu Group and their common director Christopher Strauch.

The regulator of Australian therapeutic goods alleges the parties unlawfully advertised medical cannabis on websites and social media.

TGA assessing Dolphins partnership

The Therapeutic Goods Administration told the ABC it was aware of the partnership between the Dolphins and Alternaleaf and was assessing if any material published in connection with the partnership raised advertising concerns.

“Partnerships between sport teams and entities involved in the supply of medicinal cannabis are not prohibited by the act, however the advertising of medicinal cannabis, as prescription medicines, to the public is prohibited,” a spokesperson said.

“The TGA has written to Alternaleaf, the Dolphins and the NRL in relation to this matter and continues to monitor Dolphin games and related broadcasting.”

Alternaleaf’s website states that it is an official partner of the Dolphins NRL team.

As of Saturday morning the partners section of the Dolphins website mentions no affiliation with the self described online health clinic.

Month-long partnership

The two parties announced their partnership only last month in what was described by Dolphins media as an “Australian first, major partnership, solidifying their commitment to community health and wellbeing.”

In a brief statement provided to the ABC a Dolphins spokesperson addressed the matter.

“There has obviously been some noise around the topic this week,” a Dolphins spokesperson said.

“The Dolphins have taken some advice to be proactive until the matter can ultimately be sorted with a definite conclusion.”

While proceedings against Alternaleaf, Montu Group and Mr Strauch were ongoing the TGA said it would make no further comment about the matter.

In a statement earlier this week they went into detail about the allegations against all parties.

“It is alleged that Montu and Alternaleaf unlawfully advertised medicinal cannabis using terms including ‘medical cannabis’ and ‘plant medicine’ to promote the Alternaleaf online clinic which enabled patients to purchase prescription-only medicines after completing an online consultation,” the statement read.

“The companies allegedly promoted the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of serious diseases, conditions and disorders — such references are not allowed to be included in advertising for therapeutic goods [without] approval or permission from the TGA.”

The statement also detailed allegations that the advertisements implied that medicinal cannabis had been approved by the TGA and represented medicinal cannabis to be safe without harm or side effects.

The TGA said it repeatedly wared the companies about non-compliant advertising before taking action.