Mike Tyson and Kevin Durant Lead Sports Stars in Urging Trump for Cannabis Reform

A powerhouse group of sports icons and entertainers, including boxing legend Mike Tyson and NBA superstar Kevin Durant, has penned a compelling letter to the White House, pressing President Donald Trump to champion sweeping cannabis reform. This coalition, which also features names like Allen Iverson, Roy Jones Jr., and former NFL star Ricky Williams, is pushing for a transformative shift in how marijuana is treated under federal law.

The letter, representing a unified front of athletes and entertainers, outlines three critical areas for reform: granting clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenses, rescheduling the drug from Schedule I to Schedule III, and dismantling discriminatory banking practices that plague state-legal cannabis businesses. It’s a bold call to action, emphasizing the absurdity of lengthy federal sentences for actions now legal in many states.

Highlighting past injustices, the group points to Trump’s pardon of music producer Weldon Angelos, who faced a staggering 55-year sentence for marijuana charges before his release in 2016 and pardon in 2020. They also take a sharp jab at former President Joe Biden for failing to follow through on promises to address marijuana-related incarcerations, calling it a betrayal that demands urgent leadership.

On the science front, the coalition argues that marijuana’s current Schedule I status—implying high abuse potential and no medical value—is outdated and economically harmful. A move to Schedule III would align federal law with state policies, boost research, and fuel innovation. Meanwhile, their plea to end banking discrimination underscores the struggles of cannabis operators, who despite employing over 450,000 Americans and generating billions, face crippling barriers to financial services and exorbitant tax rates.

This isn’t just a policy push; it’s a cultural statement from some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, including rappers like Lil Pump and former NFL players like Jim McMahon. Their message is clear: it’s time for common-sense laws to catch up with reality.