Boxing icon Mike Tyson just threw a knockout punch of praise for President Donald Trump’s bold move on cannabis reform.
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, Trump issued an executive order reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under DEA rules, a seismic shift in federal policy that eases restrictions on its sale, purchase, and medical research while aligning it with substances deemed to have lower dependency risks.
For American workers, especially those in the cannabis industry, this is a game-changer with real economic impact—think over 500,000 existing jobs finally getting official recognition on the books. Taxpayers stand to benefit too, as this could streamline regulatory costs and boost legitimate business revenue, though conservatives will demand strict oversight to ensure no funny business slips through the cracks. Let’s keep the feds accountable on how this rolls out.
Tyson, at 59, was quick to celebrate, having long championed this cause with a coalition of athletes like Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant. Back in June 2025, they penned a letter to the White House pushing for exactly this kind of rescheduling, plus clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
“Thank you [President Trump] for rescheduling cannabis. This decision reflects listening to people across the country and taking a practical step toward modernizing outdated policies,” Tyson posted on X. Well, credit where it’s due—Trump sidestepped the progressive agenda’s usual foot-dragging and delivered a policy that actually speaks to working folks, not just ivory-tower elites.
Before this order, marijuana sat alongside heavyweights like heroin in the Schedule I category, a classification many conservatives saw as outdated and punitive. Now, it’s grouped with milder substances like certain painkillers, signaling a pragmatic shift. Still, let’s not pop the champagne yet—federal legalization isn’t here, and oversight must be ironclad.
Tyson’s advocacy isn’t new; he’s been in this fight since his early days, buoyed by a decades-long friendship with Trump dating back to the 1980s in New York City. Their bond, visible at events like a 1989 March of Dimes dinner, shows a personal trust that likely fueled Tyson’s optimism about this reform.
In a June 2025 interview, Tyson tied his own career decisions to this issue, saying, “It depends on if cannabis ever becomes legal or not and rescheduled." There’s a man who puts his money—or his gloves—where his mouth is, though some might question tying a fight comeback to a policy change. Still, it’s hard not to respect his candor in a world drowning in political doublespeak.
Tyson also admitted to agreeing to his recent bout with Jake Paul while under marijuana’s influence, a decision he later regretted. That raw honesty cuts through the woke haze of excusing every personal misstep. Accountability matters, even for a legend.
Yet, not all news on cannabis is rosy—a May 2025 study from UC San Francisco flagged cardiovascular risks from long-term edible use, akin to smoking it. For retirees or families considering medical marijuana, this is a legal and health wake-up call: proceed with caution and demand full transparency on risks.
Tyson’s vision doesn’t stop at rescheduling; he’s pushing for clemency for nonviolent offenders and full federal legalization. While conservatives might balk at blanket pardons without thorough vetting, his call to fix a broken system resonates with those tired of overreach.
The athletes’ coalition letter also targeted discriminatory banking practices in the cannabis sector, a bureaucratic mess that strangles small businesses. If Trump’s order paves the way for fairer rules, it’s a win for Main Street over Wall Street—something every red-blooded American can cheer.
This reclassification could reshape the economic landscape, especially if Tyson’s estimate of 500,000 jobs being counted holds true. But let’s not get high on hope alone—Congress and the DEA must be watched like hawks to avoid loopholes or abuse.
For now, Tyson and Trump have landed a solid jab against outdated federal policy, showing that common-sense reforms can cut through partisan fog. It’s a rare moment of clarity in a culture often bogged down by ideological nonsense.
Still, the fight’s not over—health risks, legal battles, and enforcement challenges loom large. Conservatives should stand firm: celebrate the win, but demand every detail be scrutinized. After all, freedom isn’t free, and neither is good policy.
