BEND, Ore., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Oregrown Industries, Oregon’s premier farm-to-table cannabis company, has announced a major partnership with legendary snowboarding film company Absinthe Films and featured rider Brandon Cocard.

“This is an incredible opportunity to support and amplify the authentic voice of the global snowboarding community,” said Oregrown co-founder Aviv Hadar.  “It is time to acknowledge publicly what the community has long known: that cannabis adds value to active lives. In expressing their genius on the mountain and on film, Brandon and Absinthe represent exactly that.”

Oregrown will be the title sponsor for Absinthe’s 2017-18 snowboarding film and will sponsor all Oregon screenings of the feature-length release.  The partnership also includes a dedicated Oregrown channel on the iOS and Android compatible AbsintheApp featuring exclusive Absinthe content throughout the 2017-18 snow season. In addition, Oregrown will support featured rider Brandon Cocard with a monthly stipend and assistance with travel and contest entry fees.

“Oregrown’s core values align with our own to make a great match for Absinthe on many levels,” Absinthe founder Justin Hostynek said. “Our love for Mother Earth is reflected on both sides in many ways, including Oregrown’s commitment to organic farming, sourcing locally and inviting people from all walks of life to get outside to enjoy the real world. It’s a meaningful partnership between two companies that put these shared values before the bottom line.”

Oregrown’s sponsorship also creates a unique opportunity to raise awareness about cannabis in the snowboarding community.

“Recreational use of cannabis is part of snowboard culture’s DNA, but there are also deeper stories about medical cannabis that need to be told,” Hostynek said.

Oregrown / Absinthe rider Brandon Cocard has a personal story of his own. He said he finds relief in strains that are heavier in Cannabidiol, or CBD.

“I use cannabis as an anti-inflammatory, and it speeds up the healing process from muscle injuries like nothing else,” Cocard said.  “I use it for my ankles. 20 years of snowboarding takes its toll. I use it to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Hostynek said the Oregrown partnership marks an historic moment.

“Absinthe is the first snowboard film production company with global reach to be sponsored by a cannabis company,” Hostynek said. “New laws are opening minds to all kinds of new possibilities. We understand that our actions today will pave the way for generations to come, and we are being deliberate in creating an ongoing message of responsible cannabis use by athletes in its many forms and applications.”

Hadar said that’s a responsibility Oregrown takes seriously.

“This is a way of life that we are very passionate about,” Hadar said. “Oregrown has always been committed to representing cannabis in its best light. We consider it an honor and a privilege to support Absinthe and athletes like Brandon while expanding awareness of the many ways that cannabis can benefit a healthy, active lifestyle.”

Oregrown is Oregon’s premier farm-to-table cannabis company, garnering back-to-back awards for Central Oregon’s Best Dispensary at its flagship store in beautiful downtown Bend. Offering an upscale retail experience with an amazing staff and high-end products including solventless extractions and one-of-a-kind cultivars, Oregrown continues to innovate, develop and release world-class offerings, delivery methods and applications for medical and recreational marijuana customers.

Absinthe Films was founded in 1997 and has firmly established itself as the world’s leading producer of snowboard films. In addition to winning several Movie of the Year awards, four of Absinthe’s main riders, Nicolas Müller, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Bode Merrill, and Travis Rice, were voted Rider of the Year after their segments in Absinthe films. The free Absinthe Films App offers access to an extensive film library, trailers, rider parts, rider bios, Flipside episodes, and new content released exclusively and updated weekly on the sponsor channels within the app.