Malawi appoints Mike Tyson as cannabis ambassador

By Maureen Meehan

The Malawi government has asked former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson to become the official ambassador for the country’s cannabis industry.

Agriculture Secretary Lobin Low sent Tyson a letter asking him to take on the role, saying the legalization of cannabis in Malawi has created new opportunities.

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Recently, during a training workshop with farmers, Lowe encouraged cannabis growers to set up cooperatives to increase their bargaining power and saw cannabis as a key part of the country’s agricultural export strategy to help develop the country. Hence Malawi’s decision to appoint Tyson.

Tyson is a successful cannabis entrepreneur and is launching its own cannabis line Tyson 2.0 on Black Friday in collaboration with Columbia Care Inc. (NEO: CCHW) at The Green Solution pharmacy in Colorado.

“Malawi cannot do it alone because the industry is complex [and requires] Cooperation. Therefore, I would like to appoint you, Mr. Mike Tyson, as ambassador for the Malawi Cannabis Branch, ”wrote Lowe in the invitation, the BBC reported.

RELATED: Mike Tyson On Cannabis: “I Should Have Smoked My Entire Career”

The US Cannabis Association made the deal with Tyson easier, the Department of Agriculture said.

Wezi Ngalamila, the head of the association’s Malawi branch, told the BBC that Tyson had accepted the invitation and was planning for him to visit the country.

“Tyson will work with us,” said Ngalamila.

Malawi legalized the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medicinal purposes in February 2020, but not permitted it for personal use.

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The government now hopes, with Tyson’s influence and support, “to bring in some investors and even potential buyers,” said ministry spokesman Gracian Lungu of the AFP news agency.

RELATED: A Breakdown of Mike Tyson’s $ 40KA Month Weed Habit

The government of Malawi has already licensed 72 local and international companies for the cultivation and production of cannabis in the country, according to the chairman of the Malawian cannabis regulator, Boniface Kadzamira.

Meanwhile, a locally grown cannabis strain, Malawi Gold, is well known by recreational users around the world.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.