Last year, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, A.K.A. “Joe Exotic”, stimulated controversy surrounding tiger petting zoos. Now, he is trying to make a name for himself in the legal cannabis space.

Exotic, who owned a Wynnewood, Oklahoma-based zoo called “Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park,” found himself imprisoned shortly after his Netflix debut. 

The star of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem & Madness remains in jail – he is facing 22 years – for his attempt to have rival big cat owner Carol Baskin assassinated by a paid hitman. 

However, Exotic is not letting his prison sentence – not to mention the fact that he has 17 animal abuse charges filed against him – affect his chances of success in the legal weed industry.

“I am pleased to announce that my Entertainment Attorney Brad Small, from Beverly Hills, has signed an exclusive licensing deal with THC Group and Cannabis. We will be bringing a variety of cannabis products under the Joe Exotic brand to Colorado, California and Joe’s home state…” reads a Tweet from his official Instagram account. 

Joe Exotic’s cannabis deal features “top shelf exotic strains” 

Reality TV star Exotic, who has allegedly breached multiple violations of the Endangered Species Act, recently gave cannabis consumers a brief insight into the kinds of products his new range will feature. 

The Netflix star is stirring up excitement with his soon-to-be-released selection of goods, which include CBD-infused edibles and top-shelf strains. All products featured in Joe Exotic’s cannabis range are anticipated to be sold across dispensaries in California, Colorado and Oklahoma.  

The deal was struck in June after a meeting took place at The Palms Restaurant in Beverly Hills. It was at this dining spot that American actor Wayne Arnold ran into his friend and entertainment lawyer, Brad Small. 

Hervey, who starred on “The Wonder Years,” was already keen on entering the cannabis space. Conveniently, Small was planning on establishing a cannabis industry deal for Exotic, who he is currently providing representation for.

Hervey told reporters that “the timing was good; the chemistry was even better—away we go.”

Joe Exotic wants his prison sentence pardoned  

Owning one of the largest big cat zoos in the U.S. clearly wasn’t satisfactory enough for Exotic, who has tried to run for U.S. president multiple times in the past. Unfortunately (and perhaps unsurprisingly) voters didn’t take him too seriously.

He first ran for president back in 2016. Two years later, he tried his luck at becoming the Governor of Oklahoma. The outcome of his campaign, which saw him hand out branded rolling papers to the general public, was an epic fail.

“All rights for all the people, all the time. That’s how I’m going to run this state. I don’t care if you’re a Republican, Democrat, a pot smoker or meth head. We’re going to take care of each and every one of you.…Let’s fix this shit!”, he said during his campaign speech.

The likelihood of Exotic earning a solid reputation in the legal cannabis space will surely increase if President Biden gives him a presidential pardon. Previous attempts to get a person from former  President Donald Trump were unsuccessful.

Exotic wants John Phillips to ask “President Biden, VP Harris and the Attorney General to listen to the evidence and see that it’s not just city cops out of control with corruption, but his very own Department of Justice.”

Evidently, prison isn’t the only thing plaguing Exotic’s mind. The Garden City, Kansas resident and hopeful cannabis entrepreneur revealed in May of this year that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.