Sports legends from across the spectrum have a message for those who say sports and politics shouldn’t mix: Ha! According to FOX News, athletes past and present have sent President Donald Trump a letter requesting marijuana reform, and in it, they took a swipe at former president Joe Biden. The letter was signed by a long list of sports figures that include boxing icon Mike Tyson, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, NFL Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, former NFL players Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Ricky Williams, Jim McMahon, Kyle Turley and ex-NBA players Steven Jackson, Chris Webber and JR Smith.
The group is called the “Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump’s Policy Objectives.” Via FOX News: The letter highlights three main points in their proposed reform: Clemency for “nonviolent” marijuana offenses, support for marijuana rescheduling and ending “discriminatory banking practices.” And here’s a snippet: “Today, people continue to serve lengthy federal sentences for conduct that is now legal in most states – which makes their continued incarceration not only cruel but absurd. After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices. 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,” the letter states.
“This betrayal only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership, we believe, and represents an opportunity to correct glaring disparities as part of your Administration’s ongoing push for criminal justice reform.” In the lead-up to the most recent presidential election, Trump signaled support for a potentially historic federal policy shift to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The Republican presidential nominee posted on his social media platform in September that he would “continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug,” and also said he would be voting “yes” on a proposal to allow the sale of marijuana to adults for any reason in Florida. (With 55.9% of the vote, the measure did not pass because 60% was needed.)
But Reuters wrote in January about the contradiction within the administration: For example, Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, opposed cannabis legalization during her time as Florida’s attorney general. Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, Marty Makary, has referred to cannabis as a gateway drug and suggested it may cause cognitive issues. Both appointments are likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the Trump Administration’s approach to federal reform efforts.
The Associated Press contributed to this story Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
