During the 2012 CMT Music Awards, Willie Nelson, a country music legend and well-known marijuana supporter, performed his song, “Roll Me up,” a marijuana ballad whose refrain is “roll me up and smoke me when I die,” a clear allusion to marijuana. Joining Mr. Nelson in singing verses of the popular song were some of country music’s best and brightest: Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Zac Brown, and Jamey Johnson.
It is refreshing to see mainstream musicians that are thought to cater to a relatively conservative fan base singing in support of marijuana. More than that, by singing “Roll Me Up” in a venue that is seen by so many and considered family-friendly, these artists are removing the stigma from the marijuana discourse. They are not debating the use or legality of the drug; they are simply singing a song about marijuana, taking for granted that the subject matter is perfectly normal and acceptable.
The performance can be seen here:
While understated, this is a very important gesture for the artists, as well as CMT, in regard to how marijuana is viewed in the mainstream. Let’s hope that other artists, among all genres and mediums, will follow suit.
Country music just got a little better!
You go Willie…
good stuff
the metal music community has been doing this for years
Thank you Willie for helping to get the word out.
It never occurred to me until this moment but do you think Steve D’Angelo is channeling Willie’s look?
This was so warmly felt by activist all over the world because it goes so very far in helping to break down cultural barriers ~ Also Tommy Chong choosing to use Cannabis Oil to cure his Cancer, go public about it & bringing more momentum should do tremendous things toward changing the Paradgm (& don’t worry about Obama either, he is just playing the right like Brer Rabbit played Brer FOX ~ “I love it when a plan comes together” (A Team)
In my experiences, I’ve found some progressive leftists that hate cannabis, due to their love of big government-knows-best-nanny-state beliefs, way more than anyone on the right. And I’ve known many hillbilly republicans that blaze and grow their own, why do you think they hate the .gov so much?! Support, and opposition, for cannabis crosses many lines.
Great job by these guys. The more things like this get out the better off we are. On a side note, I’m far from a liberal, I’m also far from a right winger. I’m a constitutionalist that gets labeled conservative, big deal, I move on. But the general consensus that ‘all conservatives want it illegal’ is factually incorrect and does as much disservice as a statement as does the factually incorrect statements our elected officials use in general when speaking incorrectly about marijuana. So for all you ‘libs’ out there, you do have some ‘conservatives’ on the same side of this fight. Just sayin.
Decriminalize it period.
Awhile back CMT ran a Toby Keith concert that he gave for the troops. By far the biggest cheer was when he sang _Weed With Willie_. Scratch any hillbilly moonshiner and you’ll find a grower underneath…
Ok you have to write your repersentative let them know .You and over50% of the united states is asking to legalize marijuana . It can helpin so many ways helping the sick putting people back to work help get the governments loans payed off better health care do this now let washington now what is bested for the people .
Cannabis is the great uniter. All the different factions in this country that have been divided & conquored by our wunnerful politicians can come together and defeat the prohibitionists. Let’s make it happen, people. Make legalization your #1 priority in determining who to vote for. Dr Jill Stein / Gary Johnson for president – whoever is polling ahead get’s my vote in Nov. All politicians running for office must be forced to make their position on prohibition known.