President Trump Replaces Anti-Marijuana Prosecutor With Fox News Host Connected to Cannabis Industry

In a move that has drawn both scrutiny and cautious optimism from marijuana policy observers, President Donald Trump has announced a significant replacement in the U.S. attorney position for Washington, D.C.—a jurisdiction with a complicated and evolving relationship with cannabis laws. The decision comes amid ongoing federal and local tensions over marijuana regulation, enforcement, and legalization.

Jeanine Pirro, Fox News Host and CBD Company Board Member, Appointed to Acting U.S. Attorney Role

President Trump has nominated Jeanine Pirro, a longtime conservative television host and former judge, to serve as acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., replacing a more hardline anti-marijuana prosecutor. Pirro’s appointment was announced after Trump pulled Ed Martin from consideration due to various controversies, not directly related to cannabis policy.

Though Pirro is not a known advocate of broad marijuana legalization, her involvement in the hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) space adds a new dimension to federal enforcement strategy in the capital. In 2019, Pirro was named to the board of HeavenlyRx, a wellness company focused on CBD products. At the time, she cited her personal interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol, marking a departure from her earlier skepticism.

Ed Martin’s Hardline Stance on Cannabis Enforcement Sparked Industry Concerns

The prior nominee, Ed Martin, had created a stir in the medical marijuana community when he sent a warning letter to Green Theory, a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Washington, D.C. He cited alleged violations of federal law, particularly a statute prohibiting marijuana businesses within 1,000 feet of schools.

While Martin acknowledged that shutting down cannabis dispensaries wasn’t his top priority, his comments suggested a strict reading of federal marijuana law. “Anybody who is selling marijuana better have a license and everything in order, otherwise we will pursue action against them,” he stated.

Despite Green Theory’s compliance with local D.C. regulations, Martin insisted that federal distance rules still apply—creating legal ambiguity for medical cannabis businesses in the District.

Pirro’s Previous Cannabis Commentary Suggests Caution on Full Legalization

Pirro’s track record on cannabis is nuanced. While her association with HeavenlyRx hints at an openness to cannabis-derived products, she has not taken a clear stance on broader legalization. In a 2012 post on social media, she differentiated between medical marijuana and full-scale legalization, indicating a more conservative stance aligned with traditional law-and-order rhetoric.

Nevertheless, her public statements in 2019 when she joined HeavenlyRx reveal a shift in her perspective. “Initially a skeptic, I now understand there are tremendous benefits outside the assembly line of traditional medical and pharmaceutical dictates,” she said.

Her position aligns with a growing segment of Americans who support medical cannabis use but remain unsure or opposed to recreational legalization.

Prior Cannabis Cases on Pirro’s TV Show Did Not Include Policy Advocacy

From 2008 to 2011, Pirro hosted the courtroom television program “Judge Jeanine Pirro” on the CW network. Several cases discussed on the show involved marijuana-related issues, though Pirro never used the platform to publicly advocate for or against cannabis policy reform. Her stance during those years was perceived as neutral or procedural, focused more on legal consequences than legislative commentary.

Pirro’s Cannabis Ties Come After Fox News Controversy and Suspension

The announcement of Pirro joining HeavenlyRx came shortly after her temporary suspension from Fox News. The network pulled her show “Justice with Judge Jeanine” in 2019 following remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), suggesting her religious beliefs conflicted with American constitutional values. Fox News condemned the remarks and reinstated Pirro after a brief hiatus.

Despite that controversy, Pirro has maintained her popularity among conservative viewers and has remained a vocal supporter of Trump-era policies, including tough-on-crime approaches that sometimes conflict with progressive drug policy reforms.

Trump Administration’s Shifting Messaging on Marijuana Causes Confusion

While Trump has previously voiced support for states’ rights in regulating marijuana, his administration’s policies have at times contradicted that principle. The White House, for example, issued a statement in March criticizing D.C.’s decriminalization policies as contributing to “disorder.” It called these reforms an example of a “failed” local strategy.

This came alongside an executive order aimed at revitalizing public safety and order in the capital, including a vague reference to cracking down on “drug possession, sale, and use.” Though cannabis was not explicitly mentioned in the executive order, the messaging implied a return to more traditional federal enforcement tactics.

Local Officials and Cannabis Advocates Continue Push for D.C. Cannabis Reform

D.C. voters approved a ballot initiative in 2014 to legalize recreational cannabis possession and personal cultivation. However, Congress has consistently blocked the District from establishing a commercial sales market through a budget rider prohibiting funds for regulation.

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has repeatedly fought against this restriction, pushing for the District’s autonomy in regulating marijuana. “I will continue to fight GOP interference with D.C.’s cannabis laws,” she stated recently, promising to reintroduce legislation that would allow the city to launch a regulated retail market.

The continued absence of a commercial framework has left cannabis operators in a legal gray zone, where gifting and informal transfers of marijuana are common, but storefront sales remain technically prohibited outside the medical program.

Trump’s Nomination of Pirro Seen as a Mixed Signal on Marijuana Enforcement

Trump’s decision to replace an anti-marijuana prosecutor with someone loosely tied to the cannabis wellness industry has raised questions about the administration’s direction on marijuana enforcement in D.C. and beyond.

On one hand, Pirro’s past statements and business ties could suggest a more moderate approach than her predecessor. On the other, her lack of vocal support for legalization and her history as a law-and-order prosecutor make it unlikely that she will actively push for major changes in cannabis policy enforcement.

Broader Implications for the Cannabis Industry and Federal Enforcement Landscape

As federal and state cannabis laws continue to clash, personnel changes like this can have significant ripple effects. The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C. holds considerable influence, particularly because D.C. is both a local and federal jurisdiction. Enforcement priorities set by this office can influence how aggressively cannabis laws are interpreted and applied in a city that remains under federal oversight.

Pirro’s appointment—while not yet permanent—may serve as a litmus test for how the Trump administration, should it regain power, might balance its law-and-order priorities with evolving public attitudes toward cannabis.

For now, cannabis advocates are cautiously watching to see whether Pirro’s background in CBD and her moderate rhetoric on wellness can translate into more reasonable federal policy enforcement in the District of Columbia.