Merle Haggard, Outlaw Country Legend and Cannabis Connoisseur, Passes Away at 79

   
| April 6, 2016 4:42 pm | 1 comments

Merle Haggard had a legendary career and life. Known as a pioneer of  the “outlaw country” movement, Haggard was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame in 1994. A friend of cannabis community icon Willie Nelson, Haggard was once anti-marijuana, but he evolved and became a cannabis connoisseur. Today, the legend passed away at age 79.

Commenting on his evolution from anti-cannabis to pro-cannabis, the outlaw country legend told Men’s Journal that he was once “brainwashed like most of America.” “But if a guy doesn’t learn anything in 50 years, there’s something wrong with him. I’ve learned a lot about it, and America has, too.”

 

The evolution from anti-marijuana to cannabis connoisseur can be seen in the evolution in Haggard’s music. When Haggard recorded “Okie from Muskogee” he didn’t use marijuana, but that clearly changed as he grew older (and wiser).

As Rolling Stone noted, many country artists have commemorated the very influential outlaw:

Eric Church recruited the very inspiration behind his “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” to join him on the song. Today, Church sent an email to his fans, containing simply these poignant lyrics:

Rest In Peace.
One of these days when my time has come
You can take me back to where I’m from
Put me on a westbound train
And ship me off in the pourin’ rain
Don’t cry for me when I’m gone
Just put a quarter in the jukebox and sing me back home and
Tip your hats and raise your glasses of cold cold beer
They say country’s fading
But just keep waving that flag around here
And I know it’ll keep on coming back
As long as people pledge allegiance
Where folks still pledge allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Hag

Leaving no question that he was done with his anti-marijuana ways, Merle Haggard recorded “It’s all going to pot” with Willie Nelson, which I’ll leave you with. Rest in peace, Mr. Haggard.

Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.