Willie Nelson Credits Marijuana With Saving His Life And Key To A Long-Life

Legendary country music icon Willie Nelson hosted a star-studded two-day concert event to celebrate his 90th birthday. The lineup of guests included Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, The Chicks, Kacey Musgraves, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Rosanne Cash, Snoop Dogg, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes and Ziggy Marley.

Don’t Miss: Investing In Cannabis Startups: Chow420 Is Bringing The Cannabis Industry To The 21st Century

On the stage, Nelson called out, “Come out and roll one with me, Snoop!” With undeniable swagger, rapper Snoop Dogg strutted out and took a seat beside Nelson as they kicked off their stoner anthem “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” True to their free-spirited nature, both artists occasionally stumbled over the lyrics, but they were having too much fun to care.

Nelson’s vitality at age 90 is amazing. What is his secret to such longevity? 

According to Nelson, taking care of oneself is essential for a long and healthy life. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, he emphasized the importance of daily maintenance, stating, “If you want to live a long time, you have to take care of yourself. You have to pay for the day, every day. As you’ve always heard, if you don’t use it, you lose it. You need to move. So every day, I’ll jog or walk, do some sit-ups — just a little something to pay for the day!”

When it comes to his diet, Nelson reveals that he doesn’t eat a lot, opting for items like eggs, waffles, toast and plenty of protein shakes. He has made positive changes in his drinking habits, stating, “I’m doing pretty good. I’ve managed to keep my weight down pretty good, and I really don’t do anything that’s bad for me. I don’t drink as much as I used to. I still take a drink of tequila occasionally, but not like I used to.”

Don’t Miss: Why Jason Calacanis and Other Silicon Valley Elites Are Betting On This Startups Vision For Re-Uniting American Families

From hit singles, global tours and songwriting for other artists to acting, winning awards and authoring books, Nelson's legacy is impressive. But Nelson defines his legacy not by these achievements but by one simple principle: always showing up. He believes in the power of envisioning one’s goals and allowing them to manifest. As he reflects on his success, Nelson confesses, “I wish I could tell you. I really don’t know, except that I really do believe in imagining what you want to do and let it happen. And that’s my full philosophy, and it’s working.”

Nelson’s advocacy for marijuana is well-known, and he asserts that it has transformed his life and benefited others. Reflecting on his past struggles with alcohol, he acknowledges the positive impact of marijuana, saying, “Well, it not only saved my life, it probably saved some other people’s lives because before I smoked marijuana, I was drinking a lot. And I might have killed a lot of people, too. So I’m just glad that that didn’t happen. I’m glad we lived through all of the bad times.”

Facing breathing issues and emphysema in recent years, Nelson shared in 2019 that he had stopped smoking marijuana. However, his son Lukas Nelson assured fans that Willie continues to enjoy cannabis through other means such as vaping, edibles, gummies and drops.

See more on startup investing from Benzinga.

•  AI Startups Turn to Retail Investors To Fund the Growth of the $1.59 Trillion Artificial Intelligence Market
• Be An Owner, Not Just A Consumer: Retail Investors Are Taking Stakes In Their Favorite Startups To Own The Upside