Mike Tyson breaks ground on marijuana farm and luxury resort in California

FILE - In this May 4, 2017 file photo, Mike Tyson gives an interview to The Associated Press, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. FILE - In this May 4, 2017 file photo, Mike Tyson gives an interview to The Associated Press, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Kamran Jebreili, Associated Press Photo: Kamran Jebreili, Associated Press Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Mike Tyson breaks ground on marijuana farm and luxury resort in California 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

First, there was the boxing ring. Then came "The Hangover." And now Mike Tyson is going green.

Late last month, the former boxing heavyweight champ broke ground on a 40-acre cannabis operation in the quiet desert of California City, a remote town 60 miles south of Death Valley with a population of 15,000.

Half of the acreage on Tyson Ranch will be devoted to cannabis growing, The Blast reports. The remaining 20 acres will feature a cutting-edge extraction facility, a "Tyson Cultivation School,"

an edible factory and a hydro-feed plant and supply store.

"Smoke and stay" appears to be the planned modus operandi for the Tyson venture, as the ranch will also include "glamping" campsites and cabins, The Blast writes. The plot of land is near Edwards Air Force Base, the online publication explained, and Tyson intends his eponymous ranch to be a source of jobs for military veterans.

The 51-year-old's company Tyson Holistic will operate the ranch with a focus on treating those suffering from psychological ailments linked to military service.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in California on Monday, though the sale and consumption of medical marijuana has been legal in the state for more than 20 years.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Things you need to know about California's marijuana legalization 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Tyson rose to fame in the 1980s, when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. In 1991, the boxer was sentenced to six years in prison for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in an Indianapolis hotel room. Upon his release from the Indiana Youth Center in 1992, Tyson won a series of championships until his retirement from the boxing ring in 2005.

He starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the 2009 film "The Hangover" and toured nationally with his one-man show, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth," throughout 2013.

An official opening date for Tyson Ranch has yet to be announced.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.