GETTING IN
THE GAME
Dawn Birch-Glick from Urbal Activ explains why more and more
athletes are turning to CBD
Words by Caroline Barry
Sports leagues have started to relax their regulations
on athletes taking CBD as the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) removed CBD from their list of banned
substances in 2018.
While THC remains a listed substance, CBD is becoming
big business within the sports industry by providing an
opioid-free, pain relief alternative.
Research suggests that CBD can help with infl ammation,
joint pain and stiffness which makes it perfectly suited to
athletes who suffer from soreness.
We spoke to Dawn Birch-Glick about her company, Urbal
Activ, which offers sports-inspired water-soluble drops,
high performance body balms and mints alongside pet
products.
Although Urbal Activ started in 2015, it is only within the
past two years that the ‘sports-driven’ company has seen
a big increase in professional players opening their minds
towards CBD.
“We have seen a great shift in the last two years as trainers
are now on-board but cannot recommend until upper
management understands the positive results and educate
themselves on quality verses non-quality CBD solutions.”
Urbal Activ started with the goal of providing hemp-
derived CBD-infused products that were guaranteed
to be potent and THC-free for those with a more active
lifestyle. The company has seen positive results from the
athletes who take their products, including retired NHL
player Jeremy Roenick, pro body builder Corey Upton and
Lorenzo Alexander of the Buffalo Bills.
“We make sure brand ambassadors experience Urbal
Activ and fi nd the results positive as authenticity and
transparency are the only thing that translates.
“The players are using our products and fi nding great
results as they are tired of the opioids and lack of positive
results.”
Dawn understands that customers may be concerned
about the potential for psychoactive effects but states this
is where education is key.
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“It goes back to education and that will take time, but we
are hoping people will understand that not all CBD is
created equal and you must demand the best - not what
the rest are doing.
“We provide the most effective, high-quality products
guaranteeing potency, purity, consistency, and zero
detectable THC.”
This is important for those who undergo drug testing
as part of their sports careers. The Urbal Activ team
developed their products to provide this.
“It is legal for a CBD product to contain the 0.3% THC so
companies are not sharing with their customers that with
that amount they won’t have the psychoactive effects, but
they will pop on a drug test.
“Our customers are either not interested in having THC
in their system or are not able to because of their job/
profession and therefore they are looking for as much
information as possible on CBD as well as legitimate third-
party test results.”