<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/" -->

---
title: Willie Nelson: How LSD Cemented His Relationship With Pot
description: "My love affair with pot became a long-term marriage," the musician writes in his new memoir, It's a Long Story: My Life
canonical: https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/
author: Sarah Begley
article:opinion: true
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2015-05-06T17:53:08.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T06:52:22.265Z
article:section: Ideas
og:title: How LSD Cemented Willie Nelson's Relationship With Pot
og:description: "Pot and I got along beautifully," the musician writes in his new memoir
og:url: https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: How LSD Cemented Willie Nelson's Relationship With Pot
twitter:description: "Pot and I got along beautifully," the musician writes in his new memoir
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# How LSD Cemented Willie Nelson's Relationship With Pot

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="d474e670-0108-4c90-af24-72889a75cf78" campaign="time-nl-inside-2026q3" creative="time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=d474e670-0108-4c90-af24-72889a75cf78&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers.

### TIME Inside TIME: key statements

*   Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=d474e670-0108-4c90-af24-72889a75cf78&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=d474e670-0108-4c90-af24-72889a75cf78&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is Inside TIME?

Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover.

#### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers?

Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters.

#### Who is the editor of TIME?

Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions.

#### Is Inside TIME free?

Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent.

### Sources

*   TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=d474e670-0108-4c90-af24-72889a75cf78&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is Inside TIME?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who is the editor of TIME?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is Inside TIME free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 6, 2015 5:53 PM UTC

by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 6, 2015 5:53 PM UTC

It’s no secret that Willie Nelson is fond of weed: he [recently](http://time.com/3829422/willie-nelson-marijuana-brand/) announced he’ll market his own brand of recreational marijuana, “Willie’s Reserve.”

But pot is not the only drug the “On the Road Again” singer has tried over the years. In his new memoir, [_It’s a Long Story: My Life_](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316403555/?tag=timecom-20), out this week, he recounts an experiment with LSD in the ’70s. “Could I expand my mind?” he asked himself while deciding to take the plunge. “Could I lose my ego?”

He may not have lost his ego, but he did lose his grasp on reality. Nelson accidentally took triple the amount his “hippie friend” recommended just two hours before a concert, and had to perform while tripping.

---

> “”

---

Once offstage, he felt even more panicky, but realized he had to relax as much as possible because his trip worsened with anxiety. When it was over, he decided he would never drop acid again.

---

> “”

---

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/"},"headline":"How LSD Cemented Willie Nelson's Relationship With Pot","datePublished":"2015-05-06T17:53:08.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T06:52:22.265Z","description":"\"My love affair with pot became a long-term marriage,\" the musician writes in his new memoir","url":"https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/","keywords":["Books","Marijuana","Music","Memoir","LSD"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Begley","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/books/","name":"Books"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3843900/willie-nelsons-pot-lsd/","name":"How LSD Cemented Willie Nelson's Relationship With Pot"}}]}]
```