Ice-T’s Blunt Philosophy on Hustle and Healing
From the mic to the screen, Ice-T has remained a cultural force, navigating the evolving tides of hip-hop, the entertainment industry, and business ventures. Over the decades, he’s become not only one of the most respected figures in music but also a powerhouse in activism, television, and cannabis culture. As we sit down with the legendary rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, we dive into his journey—from his groundbreaking contributions to gangster rap (he arguably started it) to his current venture with The Medicine Woman cannabis dispensary in New Jersey, co-founded by Playboy Playmate-turned-entrepreneur Charis Burrett, and everything in between.
Survival, Sativa, and The Medicine Woman:
Opening a cannabis dispensary is no small feat. When first speaking with his now partners Charis Burett and her husband Luke, Ice said, "If I can get a license in New Jersey, would you guys mentor me? I was full blown, ready to get into business. Charis decided instead of mentoring me, they would franchise and partner fully.”
It’s this commitment to authenticity and culture that sets The Medicine Woman apart from the dozens of other dispensaries popping up across Jersey City. Ice-T has always believed in making an impact, whether it was through his music, his TV career, or now, his cannabis venture."We got some gold records. We’re going to be signing some stuff. Treach, my partner and I, are going to be there.” He adds, "It’s got a little hip-hop flavor mixed with the ‘60s hippie vibe." He emphasizes that it’s not just about selling weed, but about creating an experience. "It worked in California and we think it’s going to work in Jersey."
For Ice-T, cannabis isn’t just about recreational use—it’s about healing, safety, and alternatives to the dangerous path Big Pharma can sometimes lead people down. "I think cannabis is a better alternative than Big Pharma. Those pills are wicked. Cannabis, on the other hand, has never killed anyone. You can find a strain that works for your body, and it’s a hell of a lot safer than those pills."
Despite his deep ties to the culture, Ice-T has always been a man who’s chosen sobriety. He historically didn’t consume cannabis. "I never smoked weed," Ice-T says. "I was straight edge. I didn’t do any drugs, didn’t drink, didn’t do anything. I sold weed though. I was the guy that would sell it. I would sell it and not partake, which was funny to people." His decision to stay clean wasn’t about rejecting the culture around him, but about safety. "When I was in the streets, I wanted to be clear-headed," he explains. "I wasn’t trying to get caught slipping. If you’re out there hustling, you have to stay sharp. You can’t afford to be out of your mind." For Ice-T, sobriety wasn’t just a personal choice—it was a survival tactic in an environment where staying in control meant staying safe.
At the core of Ice-T’s cannabis philosophy is a commitment to restorative justice. As someone who’s seen the devastating effects of the War on Drugs firsthand, he views cannabis as a means of giving back, righting old wrongs. "If you went to jail for marijuana and it wasn’t a violent offense, you should be able to go home," Ice-T says. "If we can make money off of cannabis, then those people should be out of jail."
A Life of Hustle: From the Streets to the Screen; From Hustler to Hollywood
Ice-T’s hustle didn’t start with cannabis. It started after tragedy struck early on in life. "When you lose both your parents, you end up either becoming a hustler or you give up. It’s not easy, but it teaches you resilience," he says, reflecting on his youth. "I didn’t have a choice but to hustle."
Growing up without both parents—his mother passed when he was in the third grade and his father when he was in the seventh—Ice-T found himself on his own. He used his natural instinct for survival to hustle his way through life, first in the streets and later in the world of hip-hop. It’s where he honed the mindset that would propel him to greatness: That pain forced a young Tracy Marrow to become Ice-T, turning trauma into a roadmap for survival. He made his way through South Central L.A. with hustle in his heart and a mind trained on the long game. "Nobody wakes up with your dreams. You have to go out there and get what you want." Ice-T’s story is one of self-determination, the kind that turned him from a young man who could have easily fallen through the cracks into a global icon.
He watched kings fall—dudes with real power who crumbled under the weight of addiction. "I saw plenty of drug dealers lose everything, getting high off their own supply." That alone kept him clean. It wasn’t just a personal choice; it was a survival tactic.
But he’s quick to point out that his rise to fame wasn’t a straight line. "I’m always looking for opportunities," he says, but those opportunities didn’t come easy. "I don’t invest in anything that I’m not involved in. I’ve learned that if you want something to work, you have to put yourself in it, all the way." This approach—hands-on and always authentic—is something that he’s carried through to his cannabis business, which has its roots in this same hustle.
Longest Male TV Actor in History
Ice has a rare claim to fame in the world of television as the longest-running male actor on TV. "25 seasons of ‘Law & Order: SVU,’" he says with unmistakable pride. That kind of longevity is almost unheard of, especially in a business that’s constantly searching for the next big thing. "It’s wild, man. To be on a show that long? It’s almost unheard of," he continues. "Most shows don’t even make it past a couple seasons, let alone two dozen. But I’ve been fortunate to be part of something that just keeps connecting with people, year after year." It’s not just about the numbers for Ice-T—it’s the recognition of being part of a cultural mainstay that’s outlasted nearly every other show in the genre.
Power
"I can’t retire," Ice-T says, firmly rejecting the notion of slowing down. At 67, he’s as driven as ever, pushing himself to the limit in every area of his life. "Every year I start off and I say, these are what I’m trying to do this year. This year, ‘Law & Order’ is number one, trying to finish this Body Count album, and we got this dispensary." But as he’s gained in wisdom, he’s become more intentional about his choices. "As you get older, things become more precious. You just think, if I’m going to do it, I really gotta fucking want to do it," he admits.
"When Henry Rollins talked about punks not being too punk to own a swimming pool, I thought that was funny," Ice-T says. "People have this perception of punk, like you’re supposed to be in the gutter. But at the end of the day, people are living their lives. Henry’s right. If you’ve got money, you can have a swimming pool and still be punk, because punk is about being true to yourself."
While the culture has changed, Ice-T remains a constant, a guiding force who’s never strayed too far from his roots. He’s aware of the shifting dynamics of both the cannabis industry and hip-hop, and he’s determined to keep his stake in both. "We don’t want them to disrespect it. Respect the culture," he says, speaking about hip-hop. "At the end of the day, hip-hop was invented by kids. It’s their culture, and we just hope they carry it forward."
Ice-T’s philosophy is clear: hustle, adapt, and respect the culture that got you here. His journey—from off the porch to a cannabis dispensary in New Jersey—embodies the hustle that has fueled his life and career.
"The acronym for OLD?" he smirks. "Out Living Dummies."
Mic drop.
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