'Some people need it': Mike Tyson promotes cannabis brand at Zen Leaf in Neptune

NEPTUNE – An estimated 1,500 people gave retired heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson a roaring welcome at the cannabis dispensary Zen Leaf on Saturday afternoon.

Tyson, who has been a supporter of cannabis accessibility, arrived at the dispensary to shake hands and take photos with fans. His own cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 and Zen Leaf have partnered to roll out a new cannabis line named after the retired professional wrestler Ric Flair called the Ric Flair Drip.

Zack Swan, the national director of marketing for Verano, the parent company of Zen Leaf, said the Ric Flair line will contain cannabis flowers and vape products. He said the edibles will be called Wooo Chews, named after Flair’s famous in-ring shouts.

Tyson said he knew he would launch one of the biggest cannabis brands, but “I didn’t think it would be this quick.”

Tyson 2.0, which was conceived and launched in 2021, currently sells flower products, pre-rolls and a line of toad products to mimic the experience of taking psychedelics. The edibles called Mike Bites are a reference to Tyson’s infamous fight against Evander Holyfield, in which he bit off a part of Holyfield's ear. It is currently sold in 24 states and 600 cannabis dispensaries.

“We decided based on trial and error,” Tyson said about his products. “So, we get the best growers in the country.”

He said, “Some people need it (cannabis) to function in life.”

Jacqueline Schubert of Long Branch is one of those people. She has lung cancer and intense back pain.

“I’m usually in pain, every day, all day long,” Schubert said. “Now that I’ve started (using cannabis), it has helped me tremendously. And then that way I don’t have to go on pain meds. … It just makes it easier. And I’m really grateful that it’s something that’s available.”

She said she was a fan of Tyson, watching him box when she was younger. “Bless him and his way. And now he’s trying to help people.”

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Thomas Hinz of Asbury Park said Tyson was his idol. He said he is training to be an MMA fighter and uses cannabis during recovery periods.

“He’s like a huge inspiration for me,” Hinz said. “His attitude, his willpower. … That attitude gets you so far because at the end of the day, what gets anything done is discipline and treating your body right and he’s all about that.”

Sergio Garcia, Jackson, said, “It was a blessing to just see him. It’s like a dream come true.”

While New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis last year, about two-thirds of all municipalities have opted out of allowing the cannabis businesses to take root in their boundaries.

Neptune Mayor Nicholas Williams said allowing the sale of legal cannabis has been a positive for the township.

Verano, which is a national chain of cannabis dispensaries, has 114 stores across the country, according to Swan, and three in New Jersey. The sale of legal cannabis only began at Zen Leaf’s Neptune location in early August.

Williams said the majority of residents voted in favor of recreational cannabis.

“People wanted it, people got it. They don’t have to find it on the streets anymore,” he said. “They can come by here every day.”

OliviaLiu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Mike Tyson visits Zen Leaf Neptune, promotes NJ legal weed