Mike Tyson's Transformation
The Kind Mike Tyson Finds Happiness, Relief, and Wisdom with Cannabis...and a Toad?
By Stephen McCamman
Mike Tyson turned the corner of the media tent, a patchwork of gray beard covering the champ's once chiseled jaw, looking more like the comedian Redd Foxx’s genial character Fred Sanford than the most feared boxer of his generation. Oblivious to the beehive of activity buzzing around him– global fame has been his world for over thirty years–he sat down with Elevate Magazine for a wide-ranging interview during his Kind Music Festival at Tyson Ranch in Desert Hot Springs.
At times reflective, hopeful, funny, and surprisingly introspective, Tyson spoke about coming to terms with his past, looking forward to building his dream project on Tyson Ranch, and how killing his ego allowed him to see the world in a new, more compassionate light.
Truly a road less traveled, Tyson's journey started on the toughest streets of Brooklyn. In a tough neighborhood that reduced life to two choices - flight or fight - he used his fists to survive. Weighing in at 180 pounds by the time he was thirteen, he caught the eye of legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato. D'Amato, in the twilight of his career, recruited Tyson and turned his formidable street fighting skills into instruments of the "sweet science," taking a traumatized man-child and molding him into the most feared boxer on the planet.
By the time Tyson was twenty-one and the youngest heavyweight champion in history, he also joined the ranks of the world's most famous and wealthiest celebrities. Tyson had conquered the world's toughest men and was on top of the world–or so he thought.
Tyson eventually succumbed to the dark side of fame and fortune. With the death of the father figure and mentor, D'Amato, the temptations finally caught up with the disciplined boxer. The litany of Tyson's struggles is well known: prison, bankruptcy, pharmaceutical drug addiction (taken to blunt the ravages of 20 years in the ring), and battles with mental illness. Most of these mistakes are admittedly self-inflicted, and others–like the accidental death of his young daughter at home–are just rotten luck.
Now, he is still fighting his demons and trying to rehabilitate his reputation as a loose cannon. Still, that same relentless spirit that helped secure his place in boxing history is focused on defeating those demons and searching for life’s meaning and purpose.
"I accept my past," said Tyson, the blaring beats of the Kind Music Festival almost drowning out his soft voice. "I don't close the door on it. The good and the bad and everything that happened. All those experiences allowed me to make better decisions, like getting involved in the cannabis industry, getting involved in this town, and all my other ventures, such as my CBD products. I'm on cloud nine. I'm very grateful."
Tyson's adventures in the cannabis industry started on a movie set in Thailand with producer and current Tyson Group CEO Rob Hickman. Tyson came to him about a relative who owned several failing dispensaries. Intrigued at the opportunity, Hickman did a deep dive into the industry and cannabis science and came back with a business proposition for Tyson. After Hickman explained the plan, Tyson said the decision to jump into the project was a "no-brainer.” The Tyson Group was born.
No stranger to business success, Hickman, in addition to producing movies, was also involved in the George Foreman grill, the best-selling kitchen appliance – ever.
Building on the one-two punch of Tyson's celebrity and his business acumen, Hickman has assembled a crack executive team for the Tyson Group, pulling in top-shelf people from the entertainment, sports, and hotel industries to make the company a force in the cannabis industry.
However, Tyson emphasized that his relationship with Hickman goes far beyond business. "Rob is a mentor to me," said Tyson, "and also a friend. I've learned a lot from him over the years."
As for using medical cannabis, Tyson detailed how the injuries and damage done to his body during his boxing career caused him to turn to medical doctors and pharmaceutical drugs as an escape from the daily pain. Predictably, this led to a battle with addiction and mental decline during the early 2000s.
"You know, I had a 22-year career in boxing," Tyson began, "and during that period of my life, I experienced some bad injuries and concussions. I just didn't feel well. I felt I was broken. Something was wrong. So, I started taking pharmaceuticals prescribed by my doctor, and I just fell apart. I really fell apart. I was addicted to the pills."
Tyson turned to the herb he used to sell on the streets of Brooklyn and found relief from the debilitating chronic pain. Tyson smokes cannabis daily but warns kids that unless it is a medical necessity, stay away. "Only use cannabis if you are in situations like I am," stressed Tyson, "if you are injured or in a great deal of pain and need relief, should you get involved with cannabis. But don't abuse it."
Along with smoking it (he held an unlit joint of his cannabis brand throughout our interview), Tyson's cannabis regime includes using Copper Gel Ice, a CBD topical from the Tyson Ranch line, which helps alleviate his shoulder and back pain.
His journey toward complete healing didn't end with a joint and some gel. While he has successfully dealt with the physical pain, Tyson also realized that the next space he had to work on is the one between his ears. Enter the toad.
Found in the American Southwest and parts of Mexico, the Colorado River Toad secretes a venom that, when smoked, produces a brief yet profound hallucinatory state. In search of deeper meaning, Tyson undertook this 15-minute journey into his mind and came away from the experience of a different, humbler man.
Describing the experience, Tyson commented that the toad venom is no recreational experience, stating, "You have to go through hell before you are happy."
When prodded to explain his experience on the toad venom (a stronger version of DMT), he added that his hallucinatory hell was "almost inconceivable. You can't figure out what you are seeing. You are going into chambers, seeing pyramids. You see the most bizarre things. It only lasted 15 minutes, but it seemed like forever."
Admitting that he was afraid during his journey, Tyson said he had no choice but to give in to the experience rather than rely on his first impulse, which is to fight. "It killed my ego," he explained. "I was so afraid, I had to surrender. I've never been the same. Now, I look at and interact with people differently."
So, if you are looking for the answer to who Mike Tyson is today, here it is: A fighter who learned to surrender—a man who was feared by all, now afraid of the fleeting images. A man with perhaps the biggest ego in the world (given his accomplishments), relieved that his ego (the Mike Tyson of old) was finally dead.
Now, at age 52, his life is infused with new meaning and purpose: To bring joy, healing, and an enjoyable time to the rest of the world.
This new mission is why hundreds of friends and fans joined Tyson at the first concert on Tyson Ranch on a chilly Saturday night in the California desert. The sprawling 420-acre property will eventually include a wellness center, a sports stadium, a music venue, and numerous other activities, including a golf range and a lazy river.
Tyson's group arranged with land developer Richard Sax's investment group to build on the property, which straddles Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs. Tyson quickly thanked Sax for hosting the event, saying, "Without him, this wouldn't be possible. He sees our vision for the property and works closely with us to make it successful."
So, Mike Tyson's one-of-a-kind journey in the California desert opens another chapter for him. Now, a wiser, gentler family man dedicated to bringing the healing power of the cannabis plant to his legions of fans and supporters, Tyson's growth as a person continues. And for that, we can thank cannabis, the Colorado River Toad, and, most importantly, a fighter who wasn't afraid to put down his gloves and surrender.