Tuesday September 19, 2006
Country legend Willie Nelson has been charged with drug possession after his tour bus was pulled over by police.
Police say they were making a routine inspection ? and as soon as the door was open the strong stench of marijuana was unavoidable despite it being early in the morning.
Officers in Louisiana then say a search of the bus also found "magic mushrooms" as well as marijuana.
Nelson, 73, and four members of his tour crew ? including his 79-year-old sister ? were issued citations for the drugs.
Police say the tour bus was pulled over for an early morning commercial vehicle inspection. of the tour bus.
"When the door was opened and the trooper began to speak to the driver, he smelled the strong odor of marijuana," a police spokesman said.
Trooper Willie Williams of the Louisiana Highway Patrol said a search of the bus turned up about 1.5 pounds of marijuana and about two-tenths of a pound of mushrooms.
Misdemeanor drug citations were issued for Nelson, of Spicewood, Texas, as well as his 75-year-old sister, Bobbie Nelson of Briarcliff, Texas, Tony Sizemore, 59, of Saint Cloud, Florida, Gates Moore, 54, of Austin, Texas, David Anderson, 50, of Dallas, Texas.
Each was released after being issued a citation.
Nelson has not been shy of his drug use. Jackass star Johnny Knoxville recently recalled trying to keep up with the country music superstar ? and failing.
"I'm not a weed person, but when Willie Nelson passes you a joint, you don't say no," the Jackass star told Playboy.
The country legend gave him a token that left Knoxville feeling like "I was on [bleeping] acid. ... And I had to do interviews that day. I called him later to say, 'Thanks a lot, Willie. I was on [bleeping] Mars for six hours.' Nothing could have made him any happier."
In another interview, he said that Nelson's "s**t is a commitment. I honestly don't see how he functions - people pass out smoking that.
"He had a crew with him shooting a documentary, and one of the camera guys keeled over while filming."
A call to Nelson's publicist was not immediately returned.
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