A coalition of prominent sports stars and entertainers has written to President Donald Trump demanding comprehensive cannabis reform, following what they describe as former President Joe Biden's "betrayal" on marijuana clemency promises.
The group, calling itself the "Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives," is led by boxing legend Mike Tyson and NBA superstar Kevin Durant.
Other notable signatories include former NBA stars Allen Iverson, Chris Webber and JR Smith, former NFL players Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant and Champ Bailey, and former boxer Roy Jones Jr.
Entertainment figures supporting the initiative include streamer Adin Ross, rapper Lil Pump and musician Wyclef.
Mike Tyson has demanded clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenders and hit out at Joe Biden's 'betrayal'
Reuters
The letter outlines three key reforms: clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenders, rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, and ending discriminatory banking practices against legal cannabis businesses.
The coalition's letter sharply criticises Biden's failure to deliver on his 2020 campaign promises regarding marijuana justice.
"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.
The group highlights that Biden "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."
They describe this as a "betrayal" that "only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership."
The letter points to Trump's previous pardon of music producer Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for marijuana charges in 2004, as an example of the action needed.
The coalition argues that people continue serving lengthy federal sentences for conduct now legal in most states.
The coalition argues that marijuana's current Schedule I classification alongside heroin and LSD is "scientifically outdated, economically detrimental, and at odds with modern medical understanding."
Schedule I substances are deemed to have high potential for abuse with no accepted medical use in America, whilst Schedule III substances have moderate to low dependency potential and recognised medical applications.
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Donald Trump has received a letter from several sports people including Mike Tyson, Kevin Durant and Antonio Brown
PA
"Rescheduling marijuana would harmonize federal law with state policies, promote innovation, encourage research, and drive economic growth," the letter states.
The group contends that reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III would align federal policy with the reality that marijuana is now legal in most states.
This change would acknowledge the drug's accepted medical uses whilst maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.
The letter details how state-legal cannabis operators face "unjust barriers to banking services" despite operating legally in 40 states, employing over 450,000 Americans and generating more than £28 billion annually.
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Mike Tyson has been a big advocate for cannabis in the United States in recent yearsGETTY"Cannabis businesses cannot take standard business deductions, leading to effective tax rates often exceeding 85%," the coalition writes.
The group highlights the unfairness of foreign cannabis companies benefiting from listings on US exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ whilst American operators remain excluded.
The letter references Trump's previous opposition to "Operation Choke Point," an initiative that investigated banks dealing with businesses deemed high-risk for fraud.
The coalition argues cannabis businesses have been similarly affected by discriminatory banking practices, with employees struggling to obtain mortgages from traditional lenders despite full compliance with state law.
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