86 year old country music legend and long time cannabis advocate has given up smoking due to ongoing health issues.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Amazing to see Willie on the cover of the @rollingstone today! That's a great way to celebrate your 86th birthday! Check out the piece and pre-order his new album Ride Me Back Home

A post shared by Willie Nelson (@willienelsonofficial) on Apr 29, 2019 at 10:56am PDT

 

Nelson - who has alledgedly smoked pot on the White House roof and even has his own strand of the plant - told CNN affiliate KSAT in San Antonio, Texas:

 

"I have abused my lungs quite a bit in the past, so breathing is a little more difficult these days and I have to be careful.  I started smoking cedar bark, went from that to cigarettes to whatever. And that almost killed me. I don't smoke anymore -- take better care of myself."

 

Notice he said that he didn't say he gave up marijuana altogether .. 

 

At last month's CMA Awards - Nelson performed a duet of Rainbow Connection with Kacey Musgraves and appeared to struggle a bit through the song.  

 

 

Nelson's smoking habits are legendary - inspiring songs like Toby Keiths'  “I’ll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again"