Lukas Nelson Reveals His Father’s Reaction to Him Quitting Weed
Lukas Nelson recently opened up about his decision to stop smoking weed, and his father, Willie Nelson’s, reaction to it. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on June 24, Lukas, 36, shared a candid moment about how his 92-year-old father took the news that his son had quit smoking cannabis. Stern, known for his playful commentary, jokingly asked Lukas if Willie was “heartbroken,” considering his well-known love for weed.
Lukas responded with a thoughtful reflection on his relationship with his father, explaining that his decision to quit weed around the time of the pandemic was a personal choice that stemmed from wanting to step away from the substance. Lukas explained that, “At a certain point, my father, of anyone, respects someone for being who they are and their individuality.”
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Despite his father’s fondness for cannabis, Lukas explained that Willie, above all, values authenticity. “The biggest lie I once believed was that I was supposed to make the mistakes that your heroes make. That you have to live like your heroes or icons,” Lukas shared, adding that he no longer felt the need to mirror the lifestyles of musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, both of whom faced substance abuse issues.
The topic of weed came up recently when Willie Nelson himself revealed in a Forbes interview published on June 7 that he can no longer smoke marijuana due to its impact on his lungs. “My lungs have already said, ‘Don’t do that,'” the country legend admitted. However, he still enjoys the effects of cannabis through edibles, which has allowed him to maintain his connection to his longtime passion. “I don’t really do anything now much except a few edibles,” he added.
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Lukas’s decision to stop smoking weed comes after his father’s own health-related adjustments. In 2019, Willie stopped smoking cigarettes, but as his publicist clarified at the time, he still “tastes the flower”—meaning he enjoys the aroma and flavor of cannabis without smoking it.
Beyond his relationship with weed, Lukas shared his desire to make his father proud by becoming more independent in his career. “I really wanted to make my dad proud by being completely self-sufficient,” Lukas said, reflecting on his years of hard work with his band, Promise of the Real. “I put 70,000 miles on a ’91 Econoline Ford with my first band, and we went out for 15 years and played 250 shows a year straight. I feel like I’ve earned something now, and I think that makes my dad and my mom the most proud.”
Throughout the interview, Lukas also spoke fondly about his father’s influence on his music career. “My dad would leave all the time, and I’d be naturally upset as a little kid, and I knew that if I learned how to be a great musician, we would be bonded forever,” Lukas said, noting that his desire to bond with his father through music drove him to become the musician he is today. “It wasn’t about being as great as him, it was about speaking the same language [and] being part of the club that understands music.”
As Lukas continues to forge his own path in the music world, his journey of independence and personal growth, supported by his father’s wisdom, shows the depth of their bond and the shared language of music that connects them.