Willie Nelson is happy about legal weed in D.C., thinks Obama is, too


Country legend and legendary pot smoker Willie Nelson performed for a group of veterans at the White House on Thursday night, two days after the voters in the District of Columbia overwhelmingly approved legalizing marijuana. So, of course, when Brooke Baldwin interviewed Nelson on CNN, she brought it up.
"Do you think it would help people in D.C. get along?" Baldwin asked Nelson. After a slightly awkward pause, Nelson laughed: "Well, I really think stress is the cause of a lot of our problems, and I really believe that the best medicine for stress is pot. Yeah, I think it would make us get along better, all over the world."
Baldwin asked him to repeat a story he'd told her about, presumably, smoking weed on the roof of the Carter White House, but Nelson declined, in the most Willie way possible. He said he probably wouldn't bring up the legal pot issue with Obama on Thursday night, but added:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
I think I realize how he feels about it and I've read some of his books and things about when he was a kid, how he may have delved into that matter a little bit. I'm sure he's very understanding of what is going on and he may be happy to see it happening. [Nelson, on CNN]
It actually won't happen unless the next Republican-controlled Congress signs off, so neither Nelson nor Obama should hold their breath. Watch the interview below. --Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How padel took over the world
In The Spotlight Smaller courts than tennis, thicker rackets than pickleball and glass walls on all sides – padel is enjoying a huge rise in popularity
-
Life onboard a luxury residential ship
The Week Recommends Peek behind the curtain of the most exclusive postcode at sea
-
9 inviting bookstores to check out
The Week Recommends Your new favorite book awaits
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas