Marijuana Moment: Trump Pardons Former NFL Star Convicted Of Trafficking 175 Pounds Of Marijuana

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President Donald Trump has pardoned a former NFL star who was convicted of trafficking 175 pounds of marijuana.

As advocates await action on federal marijuana rescheduling—and many people continue to endure the consequences of ongoing cannabis criminalization—Trump granted clemency to five ex-NFL players, including Nate Newton, who helped lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s.

In 2002, however, Newton was arrested in Texas and convicted on federal drug trafficking charges after police discovered $10,000 in his truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in an accompanying vehicle. The president hasn’t publicly discussed the pardon or nature of the offense.

“I would like to thank President Trump and all of those that work under him who put this Pardon into effect,” an X account labeled as belonging to Newton posted on Friday. “Thank you Sir for taking time out of your busy day in running this country. Thank you Sincerely and may God bless You.”

I would like to thank President Trump and all of those that work under him who put this Pardon into effect. Thank you Sir for taking time out of your busy day in running this country. Thank you Sincerely and may God bless You.
Nathaniel Newton Jr.

— Nathaniel Newton Jr (@61NateNewton) February 13, 2026

Alice Marie Johnson, who herself received a pardon for a drug offense from Trump during his first term and now serves as the White House pardon czar, also didn’t speak directly to the cannabis conviction that was formally forgiven, but she said on Thursday that “excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again,” and “so is our nation.”

“Special thanks to [Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones for personally sharing the news with Nate Newton,” she said. “I’m holding Nate’s pardon in my hands today—what a blessed day.”

Today, the President granted pardons to five former NFL players—Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late great Dr. Billy Cannon.

As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.

Special thanks… pic.twitter.com/Y4FC5lQwGE

— Alice Marie Johnson (@AliceMarieFree) February 13, 2026

Advocates have generally applauded any examples of clemency for people who’ve faced marijuana-related convictions, but such pardons have been relatively rare so far during Trump’s second term—even as he’s pushed the attorney general to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

“I’m encouraged to see President Trump recognize that past cannabis convictions deserve clemency. But there are still people serving lengthy prison terms for less cannabis than Nate Newton had,” Weldon Angelos, founder of the criminal justice non-profit The Weldon Project who received a cannabis-related presidential pardon during Trump’s first term, told Marijuana Moment. “I’m hopeful this momentum continues so that those still incarcerated for cannabis offenses will also receive clemency in the near future.”

At the start of his second term, the president fulfilled a campaign promise by commuting the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, a man who was convicted of running a dark web illicit drug market.

The pardons and rescheduling push stand in stark contrast to other administrative drug policy actions, which has also involved military strikes resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people accused of participating in illegal drug trafficking.

Newton’s pardon for trafficking 175 pounds of cannabis also comes as people continue to face incarceration or collateral consequences related to federal marijuana convictions for offenses involving lesser amounts of the controlled substance.

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Last year, Angelos, the pardon recipient and reform advocate, paid a visit to the White House, discussing future clemency options with Johnson, the pardon czar.

Former marijuana prisoners who received clemency from the president during his first term also staged an event outside the White House last April, expressing gratitude for the relief they were given and calling on the new administration to grant the same kind of help to others who are still behind bars for cannabis.

In the background of the latest pardons, industry stakeholders and reform advocates are closely monitoring the Justice Department to see what comes of Trump’s December executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to expeditiously complete the cannabis rescheduling process.

Separately, Trump recently signed large-scale spending legislation that continues a longstanding policy blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales.

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