Will cannabis be at the California Super Bowl as gummies quietly rival beer at America’s biggest game As the state prepares to host, a familiar question is quietly circulating alongside conversations about commercials, halftime performers, and watch parties: will cannabis be at the California Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event in America? California has long been a pioneer in cannabis legalization and normalization. From the passage of medical marijuana laws in the 1990s to full adult-use legalization in 2016, the state helped transform cannabis from a taboo substance into a regulated, mainstream consumer product. Today, legal dispensaries operate across California, cannabis brands advertise on billboards and podcasts, and infused products are as familiar to many adults as craft beer or fine wine. Yet the Super Bowl remains a complicated space for cannabis. The game itself is governed by the non-profit NFL and broadcast standards still prohibit cannabis advertising and on-site consumption, even in fully legal states. Inside the stadium, cannabis will not be sold, promoted, or consumed legally, despite California law allowing adult use elsewhere.  Some guests might bring in edibles, but even tobacco vapes are banned. Alcohol, however, will once again dominate. Beer sponsorships, liquor ads, and branded cocktails are a staple of Super Bowl culture, both in the stands and in living rooms across the country.

At home, the contrast is even sharper. Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the biggest alcohol consumption days of the year in the United States. Viewers are encouraged to drink early, drink often, and associate the game with beer runs and party coolers. In California, however, a growing number of adults are choosing cannabis as an alternative. This shift is subtle, but real, particularly among consumers looking to avoid hangovers, reduce calories, or simply enjoy a different kind of social experience. If cannabis does make an appearance connected to the Super Bowl, gummies are the most likely form. Gummies are by far the most popular edible category in legal markets, favored for their discretion, precise dosing, and lack of smoke or smell. Unlike flower or vapes, gummies can be consumed quietly at home without disrupting guests or drawing attention. For many California viewers, a low-dose gummy has become the equivalent of a beer or glass of wine during the game. Brands know this, even if they cannot advertise directly. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, dispensaries often see increased sales, with consumers planning their game-day experiences just as carefully as their snack menus. While cannabis won’t appear in commercials or on the field, it may still be part of Super Bowl Sunday rituals across California. So will cannabis be at the California Super Bowl? Not officially, and not visibly. But in living rooms, backyard watch parties, and quiet moments between plays, cannabis, especially gummies, is likely to be part of how many Californians experience the biggest game of the year.

The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis. For more information, visit www.thefreshtoast.com.

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