Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is pushing the state of Pennsylvania to legalize safe and regulated cannabis, citing his own experiences with addiction and the need for accountability in the industry.
Tyson, known as "the baddest man on the planet," has built a cannabis brand called Tyson 2.0 since entering the market in 2021. During a recent visit to Harrisburg, he met with state lawmakers to discuss his goal of bringing legitimacy and safety to the cannabis business.
"I want Tyson 2.0 to be one of the biggest companies in the world," Tyson said, adding that "there's a lot of bad cannabis out there" and he doesn't want to see people getting sick because of it. The former boxer has also fought personal battles with addiction, serving three years of a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape in 1992.
Tyson credits cannabis with changing his life by helping him end his cocaine and alcohol use, saying "I'm looking at me as if I'm the product of cannabis." His company sells both recreational and Delta-8 products, with Tyson's business partner Ryan Burke stating that their goal is to produce these products responsibly.
Meanwhile, Governor Josh Shapiro has been pushing for legislation to legalize and tax recreational cannabis. In his budget address earlier this year, Shapiro estimated that legalizing and taxing recreational cannabis could generate over $500 million in new revenue for the state.
However, a bill passed by the Senate Law and Justice Committee would establish a state Cannabis Control Board to regulate recreational marijuana, but not all lawmakers are on board with the idea. Senator Dan Laughlin's bill aims to clean up the existing system rather than legalizing adult-use cannabis.
Tyson has stated that he is willing to take the issue to the polls if lawmakers do not act on his proposal. With a growing number of states already legalizing recreational cannabis, Pennsylvania is now weighing its options and considering how it can benefit from the industry without sacrificing accountability and safety.
Tyson, known as "the baddest man on the planet," has built a cannabis brand called Tyson 2.0 since entering the market in 2021. During a recent visit to Harrisburg, he met with state lawmakers to discuss his goal of bringing legitimacy and safety to the cannabis business.
"I want Tyson 2.0 to be one of the biggest companies in the world," Tyson said, adding that "there's a lot of bad cannabis out there" and he doesn't want to see people getting sick because of it. The former boxer has also fought personal battles with addiction, serving three years of a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape in 1992.
Tyson credits cannabis with changing his life by helping him end his cocaine and alcohol use, saying "I'm looking at me as if I'm the product of cannabis." His company sells both recreational and Delta-8 products, with Tyson's business partner Ryan Burke stating that their goal is to produce these products responsibly.
Meanwhile, Governor Josh Shapiro has been pushing for legislation to legalize and tax recreational cannabis. In his budget address earlier this year, Shapiro estimated that legalizing and taxing recreational cannabis could generate over $500 million in new revenue for the state.
However, a bill passed by the Senate Law and Justice Committee would establish a state Cannabis Control Board to regulate recreational marijuana, but not all lawmakers are on board with the idea. Senator Dan Laughlin's bill aims to clean up the existing system rather than legalizing adult-use cannabis.
Tyson has stated that he is willing to take the issue to the polls if lawmakers do not act on his proposal. With a growing number of states already legalizing recreational cannabis, Pennsylvania is now weighing its options and considering how it can benefit from the industry without sacrificing accountability and safety.
He's been through the struggles with addiction and has spoken out about how it changed his life for the better. And I mean, who can argue with a guy who's already built a successful cannabis brand since 2021? The fact that he wants to bring legitimacy and safety to the industry is totally on point 
It's not like he's some fly-by-night operator trying to make a quick buck. Plus, Governor Shapiro's got a solid argument about generating revenue from legalization 
But let's be real, we need to make sure we're doing this right and not just following the trend of other states 
. His cannabis brand is already killing it (pun intended 
) and now he wants to take it to the next level by making it legit & safe in PA 
. I'm all for it! It's about time we see some accountability in the industry 
. If they can make it work, it could bring in some serious revenue 
. And let's be real, Mike Tyson is not just a boxer, he's a entrepreneur 
. I'm rooting for him!
maybe shapiro's idea is better, at least he's got some actual experience with it 
I'm low-key hoping they get this legalized ASAP so we can enjoy some of that good 'ganja without worrying about getting sick 
And with Governor Shapiro on board, I think it's a win-win for the state - more revenue + safer cannabis 
but you've gotta wonder if his goal is more about profiting from the industry or genuinely trying to create change 
It's dope (pun intended) that he's building his own brand, Tyson 2.0, to bring some legitimacy to the industry.
It's wild that he's not just talking the talk, either - he's already built this cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 and is selling some legit products 
his story about overcoming addiction is super inspiring, btw 
. Anyway, I'm all about that cannabis life, and if it can help people like Tyson overcome addiction, then I'm 100% down 
.
Yeah, I know, it's a total buzzkill, but someone has to keep an eye on these lawmakers 
. And who can blame him? Cannabis has changed his life, and now he wants to help others do the same 
. I'm rooting for him all the way! 
. And I gotta say, Governor Shapiro's idea to tax & legalize recreational cannabis could bring in some serious cash 
. Maybe it's time we put the "regulation" part of cannabis into focus instead of just getting high