Former heavyweight boxing champion and cannabis entrepreneur Mike Tyson made an unexpected appearance at a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab in New York City this week, donning a DEA jacket as he toured the facility alongside Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.
The visit offered Tyson a firsthand look at the agency’s drug analysis operations, including seized samples of marijuana, psilocybin, and fentanyl. The latter made a particular impression on Tyson, who told The New York Post, “I just found out that a pin of fentanyl can kill somebody. I was never educated on fentanyl and this is new to me. I’m just here to be educated on the laws.”
Tyson, who runs the cannabis brand Tyson 2.0, used the opportunity to link the dangers of the illicit drug market—particularly fentanyl contamination—to the importance of regulated, lab-tested marijuana products. “We’re trying to make the whole cannabis universe safe,” Tyson said, referencing his company’s commitment to quality control.
Habba, who previously served as a legal adviser to former President Donald Trump, echoed Tyson’s concerns. “There’s a real toxic problem in the illicit drug supply,” she said. “The Tysons are proponents of safe use—making sure it’s not from China or full of pesticides.”
Tyson, a longtime cannabis advocate who has spoken openly about his past struggles with cocaine and alcohol, argued for changes in drug scheduling. “How is cannabis a Schedule I but fentanyl that kills millions is Schedule II?” he posted on X following the tour. “Something is broken and needs fixing.”
The visit came just one day after Tyson was photographed with Trump at a UFC event. While it’s unclear if drug policy was discussed, Tyson’s company framed the moment as symbolic. “Change comes from the inside,” read a follow-up post from Tyson 2.0. “If you aren’t buying from a compliant dispensary, you could be putting your health at risk.”
Tyson has previously said, “Without weed I don’t like who I am sometimes. That’s just real.”
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