Silly Willie

Willie Nelson in drugs bust

From correspondents in New Orleans

September 19, 2006 08:23am

Article from: Reuters

COUNTRY singer-songwriter Willie Nelson and several fellow musicians were charged with misdemeanor drug possession by Louisiana police after a search of their tour bus today turned up marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

State police spokesman Willie Williams said the bus was stopped early this morning about 7 miles east of Lafayette, Louisiana, for a routine commercial inspection, and a state trooper smelled marijuana inside the bus.

State Police seized about 1½ pounds (0.7kg) of marijuana and two-tenths of a pound (91 grams) of mushrooms from the bus, Williams said.

Nelson and four other passengers on the bus were cited for possession and released, while the driver had his commercial driving privileges suspended in addition to being cited for possession. Nelson faces possible jail time of up to six months and an unspecified fine, police said.

"There was no trouble whatsoever," Williams said. "They were all cooperative."

A spokesman for Nelson said she had no information about the arrest.

Nelson, 73, has been an advocate for the legalisation of marijuana. He became famous in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement that included influences from rock, jazz and folk music.

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All I gotta say is leave that old man alone,

PC