By Noe Gutierrez
You may know Iron Mike Tyson as the youngest heavyweight-boxing champion of the world at age 20 or as a movie star from the trilogy of Hangover films. One thing is certain; he has rolled with the punches and is passionate about his endeavor, the 420-acre entertainment complex, Tyson Ranch. With the success of last February’s KIND Music Festival, It looks as if the Coachella Valley is in his corner.
Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with the former World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council undisputed heavyweight champion to talk about the success of KIND Music Festival and the continuing development of Tyson Ranch Resort.
CVW: Congratulations on the success of KIND Music Festival. How do you feel it went?
Tyson: “It was something beautiful where several thousand of my disenfranchised brothers and sisters that needed to see this and got in touch with each other. They made their way through the KIND Festival to interact with one another. KIND is a revolution. We’re leading the way for a new generation of health and wellness focused cannabis consumers. We call them The Kind Generation.” That’s what we brought to the desert. We use the word ‘kind’ because it’s a group of people who have similar characteristics and are good in nature. KIND is about health and wellness, unity and authenticity. Our festival challenged conventional thinking.”
CVW: You had Grammy award winning R&B artist MIGUEL, rapper A$AP FERG, L.A. punk rockers STARCRAWLER, Hip-Hop virtuoso REESE LAFLARE, UK Pop vocalist YONEE, D.I.E. and ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME perform at KIND Festival. Were you involved in the selection the bands/artists yourself?
Tyson: “They were all great and I would love to invite them back at some point. There’s a lot of great artists out there. We’ve had conversations with artists like Migos, Cardi B., and Drake.”
CVW: When will the next festival be?
Tyson: “It’s looking like an October date.”
CVW: How is Tyson Ranch coming along? Can you give us some details about where things are?
TYSON: “We will have several acres for the growing of marijuana by master growers. We will also have facilities to help the growers and those who want to become one. There will be a marijuana research and wellness center and educational school too. Cannabis was given to us by God. It was something I could see in my mind and it was beautiful and one entity. By this time next year, we’ll have everything developed, God willing.”
CVW: What are some of the different aspects Tyson Ranch will provide?
Tyson: “I can share with you that the Desert Hot Springs side of the property features a 5-Star health and wellness facility, high-end, luxury glamping, the longest lazy river in the world, a stadium for sporting events, and an amphitheater for concerts and entertainment. We’ll also have an acre pool with waterfalls around a water-themed resort, Tyson University (teaching all aspects of the cannabis business) and an Amtrak train stop.”
“The Palm Springs side will have a Great Wolf Lodge resort, TopGolf entertainment venue, Wavegarden wave generating system, electronic sports arena, and Dave & Buster’s.”
CVW: What helped you decide to build Tyson Ranch in Desert Hot Springs?
Tyson: “I have so much love and respect for the community. I feel grateful to be given the chance to show that I can be an asset to the community. I love the desert. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet a lot of community members and sharing my vision.”
CVW: Do you have any plans to build a home here?
Tyson: “My home is there. Tyson Ranch is my home. It’s not developed yet but this is my home. I will be there and I am there.”
CVW: What initially made you decide to go into the cannabis business?
Tyson: “It’s a no-brainer. There’s so many people who need the help that have just been stigmatized. That stigma of marijuana remains and it makes it difficult for some to not come forward, embarrassed because they’re classified a certain way.”
CVW: How has using cannabis helped you and changed your life?
Tyson: “It has absolutely helped me. I was searching for something, it was a big mistake to get involved with illegal substances and alcohol and I was searching. Cannabis helped me get back to being myself. Weed is the miracle drug of the future. Weed got me off cocaine and alcohol. I want to promote its therapeutic benefits. I’ve smoked marijuana for over ten years to ease chronic pain from my boxing career and to treat my social anxiety and anger management issues. I’m not advocating for anyone to smoke pot. I’m advocating for myself and other people who have experienced the physical and emotional pain that I have.”
CVW: What type(s) of cannabis do you use?
Tyson: “I use sweet diesel. I’m a sweet guy.”
CVW: Are you the sole owner of this project?
Tyson: “Some of my partners are some of the most prominent people from sports, entertainment and business. Tyson Ranch partners also include, Blue River Extracts & Terpenes, Redwood MJ Las Vegas, Olala Cannabis infused drinks WA, Kyle Turley Neuro XPF, The Green Shield Insurance and UCBA (United Cannabis Business Association).”
CVW: When will patrons be able to legally consume cannabis at the festival?
Tyson: “I believe that will be necessary. We will have a really serious answer to that question at a particular time soon.”
CVW: What charities are Tyson Ranch currently involved with?
Tyson: “My purpose in life is giving. We are involved with Standing United, Katie’s Art Project and Athletes for Care. Our abundance is towards giving. We have abundancies in giving and loving. That’s what our whole purpose in life is, to give.”
CVW: Part of your vision with this facility and purpose is to help and support veterans. There are studies that show that veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) receive comfort and relief from cannabis and Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive part of marijuana.
TYSON: “I want to work with veterans and employ them. I want to supply jobs, work with veterans and pay taxes. Helping to take care of the men and women who have served in the armed forces is a top priority of mine.”
CVW: Anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Tyson: “You are beautiful and you inspire me. I will do my best to not be a disappointment in my life now.”
2019 The Ranch Group Company Overview
In 2019, The Ranch Group (TRG) has the capability to become the largest processors of CBD isolate and distillate derived from hemp in North America. Current facilities are located in Monterey, CA and Pueblo, CO, and Nashville, TN. TRG will eventually expand operations to different legal states.
Recently, TRG received a California cannabis distribution license and will begin to distribute their packaged cannabis products throughout the state. Tyson Ranch cannabis products will be launched in three states: California, Nevada, and Washington. Their product line includes flower, edibles, concentrates, vape pens, and beverages.
In addition, Tyson Ranch is scheduled to launch four CBD products:
Chill Water is a CBD-infused water designed to refresh, relax and recover without carbs or sugar.
CopperGel, CopperGel roll-on, which is an FDA-registered OTC topical for arthritis, backache and joint and muscle pain relief and CopperGel Ice with pure hemp oil.
Tyson Ranch has a joint venture with Cesar Millan to release Cesar Millan CBD and non-CBD Pet Treats. They debuted their product line in March 2019 at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando.
Moreover, Tyson Ranch Insurance offers protection in the cannabis industry catering to the growers, dispensaries, collectives and more in recreational marijuana states.
Tyson Hydroponic Store offers all the hydro supplies for indoor growers including nutrients, grow lights, tents and more.
Tyson Ranch has a joint venture with Illadelph Custom Glass who is the creator of high-end functional borosilicate glass art. The brand has been a mainstay in the glass pipe industry since 2002.
2019 Tyson Ranch Forecast:
Exploring a Massachusetts cannabis license, producing the 2nd KIND Festival in late 2019, hosting a medical-focused cannabis conference in Europe and launching their CBD products in Europe
CVW: Planet 13 is a cultivation, production and dispensary operations in Las Vegas. You have teamed up with Planet 13 to launch Tyson Ranch in Nevada. Tyson: “Tyson Ranch is all about going the extra step to offer truly great cannabis. The Planet 13 Cannabis Entertainment Complex offers customers an ultra-premium cannabis experience that dovetails perfectly with Tyson Ranch’s belief that not all cannabis is created equal.”
Charities that Tyson Ranch supports include Standing United, a non-profit organization helping people suffering from addiction and homelessness reintegrate into society and become upstanding citizens in their communities, Katie’s Art Project, connecting children facing life-threatening illnesses with emerging and established artists through collaborative programs to create a lasting legacy through art and Athletes for Care, a non-profit organization founded by former professional athletes who are uniting as one voice to advocate for research, education, and compassion when addressing important health issues.
Look for Tyson’s podcast, HOTBOXIN’ with Mike Tyson and co-host Eben Britten on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and YouTube.
Also, be prepared for a television series in the vein of Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Rolling with the Punches will feature Tyson playing the president of a new cannabis company.
