BRIARCLIFF, Texas – Relaxing at his ranch outside of Austin, Texas, country music legend Willie Nelson discussed his plans to enter the marijuana market this fall.
Nelson said that he made the decision after the sale of recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado and Washington state in 2012.
“We’re setting up businesses there,” Nelson said, explaining that he hopes to have what he’ll call “Willie’s Reserve” available by September in Colorado.
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“This product is some of the best they have to offer up there,” he said.
Nelson said that he understands that there will be plenty of competition.
“You can go into any of the places in Colorado now and get good weed (and) smoke, (if) you want to," Nelson said.
He predicted that in less than a decade recreational marijuana will be available in every state.
“I never thought I’d see the day that pot would be legal anywhere in the United States,” he said.
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“The bottom line is money, and once those old guys see how much money is being made in Colorado and Washington -- all the places that it is legal -- they’ll say, ‘Hey, wait a minute. We may want to think about it,'” Nelson said, referring to lawmakers who are opposed to the legalization of marijuana.
But for him, he said it is about more than just money. It's about social acceptance of marijuana.
“It’ll generate talk, which is more important than money,” Nelson said.