Toronto cannabis store Cosmic Charlies faced legal action from FIFA in June for selling a bong modeled after the FIFA World Cup trophy, dubbed the "FIFA Bong" [1, 2]. The bong was priced at C$50 and sold to a single anonymous customer [1, 2].
The bong was stocked to coincide with the World Cup festivities that Canada is co-hosting with Mexico and the United States [1, 2]. Sean Kady, 38, and Charles Kady, 34, brothers and owners of Cosmic Charlies, said they saw an opportunity to combine Canada’s leadership in cannabis tourism with soccer fans attending the event. Sean Kady commented, "So we thought there was an opportunity to portray Canada as the leader in cannabis tourism. And we just thought that this would be another reason to kind of bring in those soccer fans and fans of FIFA..." [1].
FIFA’s legal notice arrived on June 12, sent by the Lipkus Law firm in Canada, alleging copyright infringement due to unauthorized use of FIFA’s trademarks [1, 2]. In response, the Kadys destroyed the bong on Monday morning, June 15 [1, 2]. Sean Kady said, "The cost of breaking one bong definitely could never buy me all the PR that we've gotten just from carrying this thing for a short period of time. I never expected to go viral, obviously, for carrying it. And I'll never forget the time FIFA gave me a red card." [2]
Canada legalized recreational cannabis sales and use federally, making it the first North American country to do so [1, 2]. This contrasts with the United States, where cannabis remains illegal federally despite some state-level legalizations, and Mexico, where personal use is legal but retail sales are not authorized.
The destruction of the "FIFA Bong" came shortly after the legal notice, ending the controversy over the product [1, 2].