Latest news with #cannabisreform
National Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Mike Tyson pleads with Trump to deliver on cannabis reform: 'IT'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME'
Mike Tyson is one of many athletes who are pushing for cannabis reform in the United States, and is hoping President Donald Trump will pick up where his predecessor, Joe Biden, left off. Article content The Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives, which also includes NBA star Kevin Durant and former NFL star Dez Bryant, penned a letter to the White House in an effort to 'address marijuana-related injustices.' Article content Article content Article content According to Marijuana Moment, the letter mentions three main points in their proposed reform: Clemency for 'nonviolent' marijuana offences, chancing the drug's current classification from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance, and ending 'discriminatory banking practices.' Article content Tyson appeared on Fox & Friends on Monday, where he told the hosts: 'Cannabis is in the same category as heroin. How do you categorize it with heroin? Anybody that would smoke cannabis knows there's no comparison, and that's just ridiculous.' Article content The boxing legend explained that the group wants to 'open up' safe banking for those in the cannabis industry who are currently unable to get loans. Article content 'There's over 500,000 people that can't get loans because they're in the cannabis business alone and that's just so ridiculous,' he said, noting how it's such a great income for the country.' Article content Tyson went on to explain how he has used cannabis as medicine, and how it's made such improvements in his life. Article content 'I could not live, I was going crazy without cannabis. I was just going absolutely mad, fighting people in the street, giving wild responses back to people who said, 'Can I help you?'' Tyson detailed. Article content 'And then it's done so much for me,' the 59-year-old continued. Article content 'It's given me a new life, so to speak … all the reckless trouble I was getting into [as a kid], that's not happening now as an adult.' Article content @MikeTyson calls it ridiculous that cannabis is still classified in the same drug schedule as crack cocaine and heroin — FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) June 30, 2025 Article content The letter from the fleet of athletes and entertainers slammed Biden for failing to take action against those who are behind bars for crimes associated with the substance. Article content 'After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices,' the letter states. Article content 'Not only did he leave office without commuting the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana, but in one of his final acts, he denied nearly every pending marijuana-related clemency application,' it notes. Article content
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Mike Tyson makes desperate marijuana plea to Donald Trump
A coalition of sport stars led by Mike Tyson have penned a letter to the White House urging Donald Trump to enact cannabis reform. The group, labelled 'Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives', includes a number of stars such as NBA icon Kevin Durant. Former NBA star Allen Iverson, Roy Jones Jr., Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown and former NFL player Ricky Williams are also part of the group who formed the letter. There are also a number of entertainment stars - including popular online streamer Adin Ross, rapper Lil Pump and musician Wyclef - who signed the letter. The group make three key points in the letter to President Trump - including clemency for 'nonviolent' offenses, ending 'discriminatory banking practices' and reclassifying the drug. The statement also took aim at former President Joe Biden and his lack of action regarding marijuana-related incarcerations - despite promising to do so. The letter begins: 'Today, people continue to serve lengthy federal sentences for conduct that is now legal in most states – which makes their continued incarceration not only cruel but absurd. 'After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices. 'Not only did he leave office without commuting the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana, but in one of his final acts, he denied nearly every pending marijuana-related clemency application. 'This betrayal only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership, we believe, and represents an opportunity to correct glaring disparities as part of your Administration's ongoing push for criminal justice reform.' Moving forward, the letter goes into further detail surrounding the desire to reclassify the drug from a Schedule I substance and change it to Schedule III. The varying schedules impact how drugs are perceived regarding their potential for abuse vs medical application, in the eyes of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Schedule I substances are believed to have a high potential for abuse and are not regarded as accepted for medical use in the US. Meanwhile, Schedule III substances are accepted for medical use in the US and have a low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Meanwhile, former boxer Tyson previously revealed that he is a daily user of the drug The letter read: 'Marijuana's current classification as a Schedule I substance is scientifically outdated, economically detrimental, and at odds with modern medical understanding. 'Rescheduling marijuana would harmonize federal law with state policies, promote innovation, encourage research, and drive economic growth.' The final point in the letter makes reference to an initiative called 'Operation Choke Point' - which Trump has been opposed to - and 'discriminatory bank practices'. The initiative investigated banks and business which they did with firearm dealers and other companies who were said to be at risk of fraud or money laundering. The letter suggested that marijuana companies have, similarly, been affected by the initiative. 'State-legal cannabis operators, including many of us, have also been unjustly denied banking services despite full compliance with state law. 'Despite operating legally in 40 states, employing over 450,000 Americans, and generating more than $35 billion annually, these businesses face unjust barriers to banking services, and their employees struggle to obtain mortgages from traditional lenders. 'Moreover, cannabis businesses cannot take standard business deductions, leading to effective tax rates often exceeding 85 per cent. 'While foreign cannabis companies benefit from listings on U.S. exchanges, such as NYSE and NASDAQ, American cannabis operators are unjustly excluded. 'We fully support your commitment to 'work with Congress to pass common-sense laws, including safe banking,' ensuring fair economic opportunities and equal access to financial services for all American businesses.'
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Mike Tyson, Kevin Durant, other sports stars urge Trump to enact cannabis reform in White House letter
EXCLUSIVE: A coalition of sports stars and entertainers have sent a letter to the White House urging President Donald Trump to enact cannabis reform. The group is headlined by boxing legend Mike Tyson, NBA superstar Kevin Durant, former NBA star Allen Iverson, former boxer Roy Jones Jr., former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant, former NFL star Antonio Brown, and former NFL player and prominent cannabis advocate Ricky Williams. Williams' name appears twice on the list of signees. The group labels itself the "Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives." The letter highlights three main points in their proposed reform: Clemency for "nonviolent" marijuana offenses, support for marijuana rescheduling and ending "discriminatory banking practices." The first point in the letter points out Trump's previous pardon of music producer Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison in November 2004 for marijuana charges. Angelos was released in 2016 and then pardoned by Trump in December 2020. The letter also criticized former President Joe Biden for a lack of action on addressing marijuana-related incarcerations. "Today, people continue to serve lengthy federal sentences for conduct that is now legal in most states – which makes their continued incarceration not only cruel but absurd. After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices. Not only did he leave office without commuting the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana, but in one of his final acts, he denied nearly every pending marijuana-related clemency application," the letter states. "This betrayal only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership, we believe, and represents an opportunity to correct glaring disparities as part of your Administration's ongoing push for criminal justice reform." The second point in the letter urges Trump to reclassify the drug from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III. The difference in the respective schedules, which are determined by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), determines how drugs are viewed in terms of their potential for abuse vs. medical application. Schedule I substances have a high potential for abuse and have no accepted medical use in the U.S. They also have a high potential for severe psychological and/or physical dependence. Schedule III substances have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence compared to Schedule I and II drugs, and they have accepted medical use in the United States. "Marijuana's current classification as a Schedule I substance is scientifically outdated, economically detrimental, and at odds with modern medical understanding," the letter states. "Rescheduling marijuana would harmonize federal law with state policies, promote innovation, encourage research, and drive economic growth." The final point in the letter arguing against "discriminatory banking practices" points out that Trump has been opposed to a previous U.S. initiative called "Operation Choke Point," which investigated banks and the business they did with firearms dealers, payday lenders and other companies that, while operating legally, were said to be at a high risk for fraud and money laundering. The group argued marijuana businesses have also been affected by that initiative and other banking practices. "State-legal cannabis operators, including many of us, have also been unjustly denied banking services despite full compliance with state law," the letter read. "Despite operating legally in 40 states, employing over 450,000 Americans, and generating more than $35 billion annually, these businesses face unjust barriers to banking services, and their employees struggle to obtain mortgages from traditional lenders. "Moreover, cannabis businesses cannot take standard business deductions, leading to effective tax rates often exceeding 85%. While foreign cannabis companies benefit from listings on U.S. exchanges, such as NYSE and NASDAQ, American cannabis operators are unjustly excluded. We fully support your commitment to 'work with Congress to pass common-sense laws, including safe banking,' ensuring fair economic opportunities and equal access to financial services for all American businesses." The other figures listed on the letter to the White House include former NBA players Steven Jackson, Chris Webber, JR Smith, John Salley and Al Harrington, former NFL players Jim McMahon, Kyle Turley, Champ Bailey, Marvin Washington and Tony Richardson, and former boxers Boyd Melson, Paul Willias and Keith Thurmon. The entertainment figures on the letter are streamer Adin Ross, rappers Lil Pump and Ralo, and musician Wyclef. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Forbes
22-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Texas Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Program Expansion Bill Into Law
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a bill to expand the state's limited medical marijuana program, ... More leading activists to declare that Texas has become the 40th state to legalize medical cannabis. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed legislation to significantly expand the state's medical cannabis program. The new law opens the program to additional patients and products while allowing more licensed operators, leading cannabis policy reform advocacy group the Marijuana Policy Project to declare that Texas has become 'the 40th state to legalize medical cannabis.' 'Following in the footsteps of 39 other states, Texas has embraced a commonsense policy that will ensure that Texans facing serious medical conditions have access to a medicine that's already successfully improving lives nationwide,' Lauren Daly, MPP interim executive director, said in a statement from the group. 'This new law is a direct result of overwhelming public support, acknowledging medical cannabis as a valuable, scientifically supported option for managing chronic pain and debilitating illnesses.' The legislation, House Bill 46 (HB 46), was approved by the Texas House of Representatives on May 13. The state Senate passed an amended version of the bill on May 27, leading to the creation of a conference committee to rectify the differences between the two bills. Both chambers passed the compromise bill on June 2, sending the measure to Abbott for his consideration. The passage of the compromise medical marijuana program expansion bill was welcomed by cannabis policy reform advocates, including members of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center. 'For 10 years, most patients have been excluded from participating in the Compassionate Use Program,' Heather Fazio, executive director of the group, told Marijuana Moment at the time. 'We're happy to see that the legislature is finally expanding the program in a meaningful way.' New Law Expands Texas' Medical Cannabis Program The new law expands the list of conditions that qualify a patient to use medical marijuana, adding chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would also qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the state's medical cannabis program is known. The measure also expands the types of cannabis products authorized by the TCUP, adding medical marijuana patches and topicals, as well as suppositories, approved inhalers, nebulizers and vaping devices. The legislation also directs the state Department of Public Safety to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses from three to 15. Licensed providers would also be allowed to operate approved satellite locations. Texas' new medical cannabis law adds new qualifying conditions to the current limited program. Under HB 46, medical cannabis patient registrations will be valid for one year, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment noted in a report on Saturday. Registered patients will be allowed up to four refills of a 90-day supply of medical cannabis products. Licensed cannabis products will be limited to one gram of total THC per package, with a maximum of 10 milligrams THC allowed per dose. The new law broadens the scope of the TCUP, which was previously limited to patients with one of only eight qualifying medical conditions. The program also limited options for cannabis use, allowing only non-smokable products with less than 0.5% THC. 'For too long, the existing Texas Compassionate Use Program has been severely limited, leaving countless Texans without the relief they desperately need,' said Kevin Caldwell, MPP Southeast legislative manager. 'Texans have spoken, and their voices have been heard. HB 46 will expand access to medical cannabis, a relatively safe and effective treatment option that has long been sought by patients suffering from pain and several other serious medical conditions.' HB 46 requires state regulators to develop rules to implement the legislation by October 1.
