Willie Nelson shocked the cannabis industry – and his fans in general – when he recently said in an interview that he had given up smoking marijuana. While some thought this meant he had given up marijuana completely, they should have focused on the “smoking” part, not the “marijuana” part.

As pointed out in a Tweet by his son, Lucas Nelson, today’s cannabis user can enjoy it in many different ways. He wrote, “Between vaping, edibles, gummies, drops, etc. I think it’s safe to say Willie will never stop enjoying Mary Jane!”

Even so. It was a surprising thing to hear from Willie Nelson, even at the age of 86. Not only because of his many years of supporting the use of marijuana, but also the fact he has his own brand of cannabis, called Willie’s Reserve.

Willie Nelson’s Interview in San Antonio

Nelson talked about his marijuana use briefly in an interview with a TV station in San Antonio. In the interview, Nelson said he no longer smokes marijuana. He added, “I don’t smoke anymore. I take better care of myself today than I did then.”

He went onto say that he had “abused my lungs quite a bit in the past,” and he had decided to stop smoking marijuana. Nelson has experienced issues with breathing on his most tour, forcing him to cancel a few shows.

However, it turns out it had more to do with aging and breathing issues then it did with any sudden dislike for cannabis. In addition to his son’s Tweet, Nelson’s spokesperson, Elaine Schock, told The Associated Press  that Nelson hasn’t given up cannabis.

Like Lucas Nelson, Schock pointed out there are many ways to enjoy cannabis. However, she added, “That said, Willie does what he wants when he wants when it comes to smoking.”

Willie’s Reserve On Nelson’s Interview

Eventually, even Nelson’s marijuana website, Willie’s Reserve, issued a Tweet stating, “No pigs in the sky, Willie’s still getting high!!”

The amazed reaction from people around the world to even the possibility of Nelson not using marijuana – and the swift response from his son, spokesperson and business – show how ingrained Nelson is as an advocate for marijuana, even in his late 80s.

Willie’s Reserve has been on the market since 2015. The products include flower, chocolate and fruit chew edibles, and vaporizers. His products are available in California, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The Associated Press also reported that Nelson, who already has tour dates set for 2020, does not plan to stop touring anytime soon. Nelson said, “I love the bus. This is my home.”