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Merle Haggard Supports Willie Nelson and Legalization of Marijuana

Posted by Jacob Ryan on 12/28/2010
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Merle Haggard

Country legend Willie Nelson’s recent drug arrest has prompted friend and fellow legend Merle Haggard to voice his support for the legalization marijuana, the drug that put Nelson behind bars.
 
Haggard told the Bakersfield Californian newspaper that putting someone in jail for the possession of marijuana is “silly.”
 
“There are some people in this world that have no idea what the real deal is,” he said. “I think it’s a threat to the pharmaceutical industry that you can go to the garden to grow something that might keep you from having to use Lipitor.”
 
Haggard hopes his friend can soon get back to making the music that fans have loved for more than 30 years.
 
“I would hope they would get off his back,” he said. “The ones that are against [marijuana use] feel like he’s really breaking the law. People that love him love him, and the ones that don’t like him, hate him.” 
 
Haggard has had his own experience with marijuana but says he’s stopped using the drug after battling pneumonia and being diagnosed with cancer.
 
Despite these illnesses, The Grammy winner is still recognized as one of the most influential figures in country music. Nelson and several other big names in country music helped honor Haggard Tuesday night when the "Kennedy Center Honors" aired on CBS.
 
The ceremony also paid tribute to Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Bill T. Jones and Jerry Herman.
 
Source: TheBoot.com