When Jimmy Carter's son and Willie Nelson smoked in the White House

In the documentary « Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President« not only confirms that Willie Nelson smoked in the White House, but reveals that his smoking companion was none other than his own son, Chip Carter.

«When Willie Nelson wrote his autobiography,» says Carter in trailer the documentary, He confessed that he had smoked cannabis at the White House and said that his companion was one of the White House employees. It was actually one of my sons.«

Jimmy Carter seems to smile as he makes this revelation and later reveals that it was Chip Carter, who was 28 at the time and known for his friendships with NORML founder Keith Stroup.

Willie Nelson, American country music singer and pro-legalization icon, had been more discreet about this anecdote. In his memoirs published in 1988, Willie wrote: «Sitting on the roof of the White House in Washington, DC, late at night with a beer in one hand and a big Austin Torpedo in the other. My companion on the roof was filling me in on what I was seeing and the layout of Washington's streets... I let the weed cover me in a pleasant cloud... I suppose the White House roof is the safest place to smoke dope.«

In one of his books in 2015, Willie Nelson detailed how Chip had «pulled out a joint» and said, «I think it's time for one, Willie, if you don't mind.»

«I accepted the offer,» wrote Willie Nelson. «The smoke dampened my excitement. There I smoked weed and watched the city lights twinkle like fireflies... Getting drunk on the roof of the White House, you can't help but turn inward. Certain philosophical questions come to mind, like... How did I get here?»

Jimmy Carter was the first American president to proclaim that cannabis should be decriminalized. Carter even asked Congress to decriminalize cannabis in March 1977, during his first 100 days in office, but failed to do so. His successor, Ronald Reagan, launched the war on drugs.