Exclusive: Sports Stars Push for Cannabis Reforms
A group of athletes and entertainers has reached out to the White House, urging President Donald Trump to implement reforms regarding cannabis. This coalition includes notable figures like boxing great Mike Tyson, NBA star Kevin Durant, and NFL personalities such as Des Bryant and Antonio Brown.
Interestingly, former NFL player and cannabis advocate Ricky Williams is listed twice among the signers.
The letter presents a strong endorsement of Trump’s policies while outlining three main points for reform. Firstly, it calls for leniency toward non-violent marijuana offenses, encourages the rescheduling of marijuana, and aims to address discriminatory banking practices in the industry.
The letter references Trump’s earlier pardon of music producer Weldon Angelos, who served 55 years due to marijuana-related charges. Released in 2016, Angelos received his pardon in December 2020. The letter goes on to criticize former President Joe Biden for not acting to rectify marijuana-related incarceration issues.
“Today, people serve long federal sentences for acts that are legal in most states. It’s absurd and unjust,” the letter states. It also highlights Biden’s failure to keep his promises to address these issues after the 2020 elections.
They emphasize the need for strong leadership to correct these disparities as part of ongoing criminal justice reform efforts.
The second point advocates for the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance. This change would reflect a significant shift in how drugs are viewed in terms of their potential for abuse and medical use.
Currently, Schedule I substances are viewed as having a high potential for abuse, which bars medical acceptance in the U.S. In contrast, Schedule III drugs, which are seen as having lower abuse potential, can be medically used.
The coalition claims, “The current classification is scientifically outdated and economically damaging.” They argue that rescheduling marijuana would align federal law with state laws, fostering research and economic growth.
The third point of concern addresses “discriminatory banking” policies that have impacted the cannabis industry. They reference Trump’s opposition to previous initiatives, which scrutinized relationships between banks and cannabis businesses.
“State cannabis operators, including many of us, are denied banking services despite following state laws,” the letter asserts. It highlights how, although cannabis operates legally in 40 states and employs over 450,000 workers, these businesses still face obstacles accessing banking services.
Additionally, the letter notes that while cannabis companies are unable to claim standard business deductions, often leading to tax rates above 85%, foreign firms benefit from listings on U.S. exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ.
Other signers include former NBA players like Stephen Jackson and Chris Webber, as well as a range of entertainers including rapper Lil Pump and musician Wyclef.
