Willie Nelson To Host Cannabis Event To Support Kamala Harris

With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, Willie Nelson is gearing up to support Vice President Kamala Harris in a unique way.

On Saturday, the 15-time Grammy winner announced that he would be hosting a community Zoom call focused on the critical issue of cannabis reform in America. The virtual event, set for October 24 at 7 PM, will feature Nelson and his wife, Annie D’Angelo, broadcasting from their Luck Ranch in Texas to rally support for Harris and Democratic nominee Tim Walz.

Willie Nelson's virtual smoking circle boasts an impressive roster of participants, featuring the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Brittney Spencer, Margo Price, attorney Dahr Jamail, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and Representative Brittany Pettersen.

The singer-songwriter announced the event, which will “emphasize the importance of cannabis reform in America,” on Saturday, sharing details about the upcoming Zoom call that he will host from his Luck Ranch in Texas.

“I’m excited to bring together such an amazing group of people to talk about something we all care about deeply,” Nelson said in a statement, per Deadline. “Cannabis is a path to healing, opportunity, and justice, and supporting leaders like Kamala Harris who understand that is crucial to putting an end to the federal prohibition and undoing the harms it caused to so many, particularly to communities of color where it has been disproportionately enforced.”

The Red-Headed Stranger has encountered multiple arrests for breaching the state's strict marijuana possession laws. His first brush with the law occurred in 1974 in Dallas, Texas, where he was arrested for marijuana-related offenses.

Nelson found himself in legal trouble again in 2006 when he, along with several others on his tour bus—including his sister Bobbi Nelson and their driver—was arrested after police uncovered a substantial amount of marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

In 2010, TMZ reported yet another incident in which Nelson was apprehended for marijuana possession after authorities discovered weed on his tour bus at a border checkpoint.

He has often managed to escape serious consequences following his numerous marijuana-related arrests, with penalties typically being quite lenient.

The progressive organization Ground Game Texas, a nonprofit based in Austin that played a key role in gathering signatures for Proposition R, announced on social media last week that Nelson is lending his support to the amendment.

The proposition, also known as the “Dallas Freedom Act,” aims to decriminalize the possession of less than 4 ounces of cannabis and would establish it as the lowest enforcement priority for the Dallas Police Department if approved.

“Marijuana is an herb and a flower, not a crime. Proposition R in Dallas is about fairness and freedom. It’s long past time to end the criminalization of weed in Texas, and I’m proud to support Ground Game Texas in their efforts,” Nelson said in a statement, per Spectrum News. “Vote for Prop R and let’s move forward together.”

Supporters of the amendment are optimistic that Nelson's endorsement will inspire Dallas voters to show up at the polls and support the decriminalization initiative.

“We are honored to have Willie Nelson’s support for the Dallas Freedom Act. Like far too many Texans, Willie knows firsthand how much a weed possession charge can disrupt a life," Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas said. "We’re grateful for his years of advocacy for common sense reform and we look forward to continuing this work across Texas."

The "Red Headed Stranger" singer has been a longtime advocate for marijuana legalization, a cause he has passionately supported for decades.

He previously served on the board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and has consistently spoken out about the necessity for reform in cannabis policies.

"It's a matter of time, a matter of education, a matter of people finding out what cannabis, marijuana is for, why it grows out of the ground and why it's prescribed as one of the greatest stress medicines on the planet," Nelson said in 2008.