Willie Nelson Shares He Can’t Smoke Weed Anymore But Has An Alternative

It might surprise some fans, but yes—Willie Nelson has officially stopped smoking marijuana. The 92-year-old country legend recently told Forbes that he’s ditched smoking altogether, although he’s still enjoying cannabis in other ways. In a world where few could keep up with his smoking habits, Nelson’s lungs finally called the shots.

“I can’t smoke anymore,” Nelson admitted. “My lungs have already said, ‘Don’t do that.’ So, I don’t really do anything now much except a few edibles.”

A New High: Willie’s Remedy THC Drink

Nelson’s not giving up cannabis—just finding healthier ways to enjoy it. One of those is Willie’s Remedy, his new THC-infused drink. The star spoke to Forbes about how the product is being received: “I think it’s good, the people like it from what I’ve seen and heard. It’s getting to be pretty popular out there.”

Unlike CBD, THC (the compound in marijuana that causes a high) is the star of this drink, and Nelson seems proud of offering fans a fresh way to enjoy the effects without lighting up. Though he quit smoking cigarettes in 2019, his publicist had clarified that Nelson “still tastes the flower” and doesn’t necessarily smoke more or less marijuana than before—until now.

Snoop Dogg and a High Time in Amsterdam

Nelson’s reputation as a cannabis icon isn’t without legendary stories. In 2023, he told PEOPLE about a particularly memorable hangout with Snoop Dogg in Amsterdam.

“I love Snoop,” he said. “He and I are great friends — have been forever. It was a lot of fun just hanging out and getting to do some things — Snoop and I.” According to Nelson, the duo “smoked a lot of marijuana and had a lot of fun.” He recalled calling up Snoop during a trip: “I was over in Amsterdam and I called him, I said, ‘Come on over here and let’s have some fun.’”

“So he did, and we hung out at all the hotspots over there, The Bulldog and Gray Area and all the good stuff.” Even Snoop once admitted he thought Willie might outsmoke him. That says a lot.

Music, Joy, and a Beautiful World

Despite his change in cannabis habits, Nelson is still going strong in other ways. He recently released a new album, Oh What a Beautiful World, and shared his desire to spread positivity through music. “I think it’s time we try to make people happy and talk about the good things and be positive,” he said.

What keeps him happiest? “Playing music,” he told Forbes. “I enjoy seeing people get together and forget about everything except music. I think there’s a great positive exchange that takes place.” He added, “We don’t care what political affiliation you’re with, what color you are, it doesn’t matter if you like music, come on.”

Back in 2023, ahead of his milestone 90th birthday, Nelson told PEOPLE, “I never thought I’d get here. This ain’t nothing. It’s another day.” As for the best gift? “I get a lot of fun out of playing for an audience. There’s a great energy exchange there. It’s what keeps me going.”