Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson sent a letter to President Biden and the White House asking for clemency for all federal marijuana offenders, as he says “the war on marijuana is over.”
Tyson, a cannabis entrepreneur with his Tyson 2.0 brand, called on Biden to make good on his campaign promise to free imprisoned marijuana offenders.
“I write to support granting clemency to marijuana offenders still incarcerated in federal prison and restoring civil rights to those tormented by a federal marijuana conviction,” Tyson's letter to Biden and the White House.
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Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson smokes during an event promoting his cannabis company in New York City. (Tyson 2.0)
“In September 2021, you received a letter from the Weldon Project, signed by dozens of artists, athletes, legislators, law enforcement officials, academics, business leaders, policy experts, reform advocates and other professionals, asking you to issue a blanket pardon for federal marijuana offenders. Today, I join the Weldon Project, Drake, Killer Mike, T.I., Deion Sanders, Bella Thorne, Jim Brown and many others in asking them to end the prohibition madness. of marijuana”.
Since taking office, Biden has granted pardons for simple federal crimes and marijuana possession in the District of Columbia, but there are still at least 3,000 other people currently incarcerated serving marijuana-related sentences.
“The September letter emphasized that the federal 'war on drugs' has crushed many souls and countless futures, while spreading intolerable levels of mistrust and dysfunction between minority communities and those sworn to protect them. I grew up in tough neighborhoods where “People lived in fear of drug warriors, and I have seen the high cost paid by the poor and people of color. It is time to reconcile with these communities,” Tyson's letter continues.
BOXING THE GREAT MIKE TYSON'S CANNABIS PRODUCTS HELPING OTHERS FIND BALANCE IN LIFE: 'MAKES ME VERY GRATEFUL'
“Marijuana should not be a crime. Americans today reject marijuana prohibition in public opinion polls and through legalization efforts across the country. The United States government should no longer use marijuana as a reason to lock people up. The first step is to release the remaining people federally incarcerated under America's war on marijuana and wipe the slate clean for those convicted of federal marijuana crimes.”
On December 22, 2023, Biden issued a second proclamation that “expanded the relief” from the original one he made on October 6, 2022, to pardon simple marijuana possession offenses.
Mike Tyson watches the first half of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
“The December 2023 proclamation adds to the list of pardoned crimes the following: crimes under federal law for attempted possession of marijuana; additional crimes under the D.C. Code for simple possession of marijuana; and violations of certain sections of the DC Code. Federal regulations involving marijuana simple possession and use,” the Pardon Attorney's Office wrote at the time. “The December 2023 proclamation also expands on the original proclamation by forgiving offenses for simple possession of marijuana in violation of federal law before December 22, 2023.”
While it's a step in the right direction in the eyes of Tyson and others, they want more to be done, considering 24 states in the country have legalized cannabis.
Only Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas and South Carolina still have marijuana completely illegal.
“The war on marijuana is over, Mr. President, as seen in legalization efforts across the country and in polls showing that a majority of Americans oppose marijuana prohibition. Through a concession of categorical clemency, you can declare an end to the federal war against our own people and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity,” Tyson's letter concludes.
Tyson has long been an advocate for cannabis and said it “saved my life” years before entering the fast-growing industry.
“Thousands of people texted me, FaceTimed me or Instagrammed me. [message] where they're grateful to have opened this business,” Tyson told Fox News Digital after his meet-and-greet session at CONBUD in December. “They're on the brink of suicide — all the horrible things that happen to people over regular things like that. Cocaine or one of those drugs that inflame the ego.
“It humbles me. It makes me very grateful to be able to be in the cannabis business.”
In 2022, cannabis was a $43.72 billion industry. By 2030, it is expected to generate $444.34 billion in business.
Mike Tyson looks on before the heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou at the Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28, 2023. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tyson's letter to Fox News Digital.
