Mike Tyson spoke about the need for federal marijuana rescheduling on a podcast hosted by the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller—saying he’s expecting “good news” on the issue soon.
Tyson criticised the criminalization of cannabis in an episode The Katie Miller Podcast aired this Monday. Tyson called out politicians who were “afraid” of “a little flower”.
Tyson, in clips from the interview that were shared with MEDCAN24 before the episode was posted, also minimized the possible consequences of consuming excessive cannabis. He said, most of the time, that taking an overly large dose of marijuana just makes people sleepy. He questioned current cannabis scheduling, although he originally mistookly stated that the drug was already a Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
The CSA classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic, however President Donald Trump actively considers a rule proposed by the Biden government that would elevate it to the Schedule III. This wouldn’t legallyize cannabis but would acknowledge its medicinal value, remove certain barriers to research and permit licensed cannabis businesses federal tax deductions.
While the former boxer, who also owns his own cannabis brand Tyson 2.0, has a relationship with Trump—he said during the interview that he hasn’t specifically discussed the issue directly with the president. He said that he has spoken to “many” people within the administration about the cannabis reform and is “looking forward” for “good news” regarding the proposed rescheduling.
He talked also about marijuana and professional athletes, saying that it helped them “play better.”
“It’s just the truth—and I wish that I smoked when I was fighting,” Tyson said, while acknowledging that he engaged in the use of other illicit drugs such as cocaine while he was a full-time professional. Now he is all about marijuana.
“This is my job.” As a human, I have to smoke pot. He said, “It is my journey.” If I were a role-model and an alcoholic, would I drink alcohol? [fans] What if they did that? “No, I don’t think they should do it.” “I think from my point of view, that using cannabis is safer than drinking alcohol.”
In June the boxer retired also appeared on Fox News to deliver a message, encouraging the President to redistribute marijuana and eventually legalize it.
Tyson’s interview comes just days after he and other athletes and celebrities sent Trump a letter promoting marijuana reform, calling for the rescheduling of cannabis, extending clemency, and allowing cannabis businesses licensed to use banking services.
Tyson, along with Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, also recently toured a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab. In his Fox News interview he reiterated the points he made during that tour. He said that illegal operators in China and Mexico “fill our cannabis with pesticides, fentanyl, and other stuff that kills people.”
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