The announcement last week that Rob Greene, Warren County district attorney, won’t seek another term in office would qualify as a major bit of news in and of itself.

But Greene’s reasons for leaving office have left many county residents gobsmacked – he wants to advocate on behalf of the legalization of marijuana.

It’s not unexpected to see liberal district attorneys say they won’t prosecute low-level marijuana offenses in their jurisdictions. It’s entirely another for a Republican district attorney in a conservative county to announce he’s leaving office to advocate for a substance that is still illegal in the federal government’s eyes.

The district attorney said, clearly, he has not nor will not “make legal decisions affecting people’s lives when I was incapable of doing so due to cannabis use.” But that doesn’t mean defense attorneys won’t raise the issue in court or attempt to use Greene’s admitted past marijuana use as a matter of appeal. We take Greene at his word, but that doesn’t mean defense attorneys’ eyes across the county didn’t light up when they heard of Greene’s announcement. It will also be difficult for Greene to prosecute marijuana cases that make their way to the county district attorney’s office while so publicly advocating for the drug’s use and legalization.

What Greene chooses to do when he leaves office is his business, but the timing of his announcement will likely make his job more difficult.