Boxing legend Mike Tyson, alongside other sports and entertainment figures, is strongly committed to the fight for cannabis reform in the United States. In an approach addressed to President Donald Trump, they urge him to make a promise that his predecessor, Joe Biden, did not keep: to remedy the injustices related to marijuana convictions. This is what Fox News reports on its website, Monday, June 30.
“Classifying cannabis in the same category as heroin is absurd. Anyone who has used cannabis knows that there is no common point between the two, “said Mike Tyson on Monday on the set of Fox & Friends.
Joined by personalities such as NBA star Kevin Durant and former NFL player Dez Bryant, Tyson is part of the “Coalition of Athletes and Artists supporting President Trump’s political objectives”. This group sent a letter to the White House to defend three lines of reform: amnesty for “non-violent” crimes related to marijuana, the reclassification of cannabis, currently considered a category I substance (like heroin), towards category III, less restrictive, and the end of discriminatory banking practices that penalize entrepreneurs in the sector.
An industry facing banking barriers
Mike Tyson highlighted the difficulties encountered by professionals in the sector, deprived of access to bank loans. “More than 500,000 people cannot obtain funding just because they work in cannabis. This is unacceptable,” he lamented, adding that this industry represents a major source of income for the country.
The former champion also shared a personal reflection, describing cannabis not as a drug, but as a remedy that transformed his life. “Without cannabis, I was unmanageable, ready to fight in the street or respond aggressively to those who wanted to help me. This plant gave me a new life, far from the troubles of my youth, “he said.
A legacy of broken promises
The coalition accuses Joe Biden of leaving the presidency without giving mercy to those incarcerated for marijuana-related crimes. “In one of his last acts, he rejected almost all the pending requests for leniency,” says the letter, calling this decision “treason”.
Faced with this failure, the group sees the Trump administration as an opportunity to correct these disparities, as part of its broader efforts to reform criminal justice. “We call for bold leadership to end these injustices,” the coalition concludes.
While I respect Mike Tyson for what he has achieved, cannabis is an addictive drug and many countries like Thailand where it was legal are now looking to curb its usage. Without any scientific knowledge and just basing it on personal effect, legendary boxer like Mike Tyson shouldn’t be batting for such things. Unless he has a scientific backing of whether cannabis is addictive or not, can cause cognitive and physical damage in the long run or not, he shouldn’t make claims like “plant gave me new life”.