American country singer Willie Nelson takes a drag off a joint while relaxing at his home in Texas, 2000s. A large amount of marijuana is spread out on the table before him (Photo by Liaison/Getty Images)
American country singer Willie Nelson takes a drag off a joint while relaxing at his home in Texas, 2000s. A large amount of marijuana is spread out on the table before him (Photo by Liaison/Getty Images)

The 25 Best Country Songs About Weed

In 2017, a study showed that country music included more drug references than any other genre. Country music's drug of choice? Weed.

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For fans of country music, it wasn't that surprising. Sure, country radio may have cultivated a squeaky clean image and radio programmers in the days of yore may have balked over including a reference to lighting up, but country artists' love affair with marijuana goes back further than Kacey Musgraves extolling the virtues of rolling up a joint or Eric Church singing "Smoke a Little Smoke."

In fact, classic country is filled with cannabis odes that go hand in hand with stoner anthems like Sublime's "Smoke Two Joints," Cypress Hill's "Hits From the Bong" and "I Wanna Get High," Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode (featuring Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Nate Dogg), Peter Tosh's "Legalize It," Method Man and Redman's "How High," Kid Cudi's "Marijuana," Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar," Black Sabbath's "Sweet Leaf," Neil Young's "Roll Another Number (For the Road)," "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz and Mighty Diamonds' reggae classic "Pass the Kouchie."

Here are country music's 25 best songs about weed.

"Contact High," Brad Paisley (Love and War, 2017)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Brad Paisley performs onstage at the 2022 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's at Cipriani South Street on October 29, 2022 in New York City.

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox Foundation

Brad Paisley compares brief connections with a woman to getting a "contact high" in this cheeky tune from 2017's Love and War.  Who doesn't appreciate a little romance in their stoner songs?

Listen here.

"Ready to Roll," Blake Shelton (Red River Blue, 2011)

Blake Shelton performs onstage at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images

This song from Blake Shelton's Red River Blue relates a weekend at home with his love to a relaxing toke.

Listen here.

"Worry B Gone," Guy Clark (Workbench Songs, 2006)

CIRCA 1976: Singer and songwriter Guy Clark poses for an RCA publicity still circa 1976.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Written by Guy Clark, Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell, this song is all about shutting out the world for a while and enjoying a few puffs of "Worry B Gone."

Listen here.

"Altitude Adjustment," Midland (On the Rocks, 2017)

(L-R) Cameron Doddy, Mark Wystrach and Jess Carson of the band Midland gather for a photo backstage at Cannery Ballroom on June 5, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Texas trio Midland take a much-needed trip to Colorado for a "Rocky Mountain high" with mary jane.

Listen here.

"Stoned at the Jukebox," Hank Williams Jr. (Lone Wolf, 1990)

CLARKSTON, MI - AUGUST 20: Hank Williams Jr. performs at DTE Energy Music Theater on August 20, 2016 in Clarkston, Michigan.

Scott Legato/Getty Images

We're not sure if Hank Jr. is stone-drunk or just stoned on weed in this song. Either way it's a classic heartbreak tune.

Listen here.

"Greener Pastures," Brothers Osborne (Pawn Shop, 2016)

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 15: John Osborne (L) and T.J. Osborne of musical group Brothers Osborne attends the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Matt Winkelmeyer/ACMA2018/Getty Images for ACM

Brothers Osborne wrote this perfect weed song with Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd. It's part breakup anthem, part ode to reefer.

Listen here.

"Reasons to Quit," Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Pancho & Lefty, 1982)

Country musician Merle Haggard performs with a Fender Telecaster with Willie Nelson in August 26, 1988.

Beth Gwinn/Getty Images

"Reasons to Quit," penned by Merle Haggard and featured on Willie Nelson and Haggard's album Pancho & Lefty, takes a more somber approach to singing about recreational drug use.

"Reasons to quit, they have no rhyme or reason when you're high/ And the reasons to quit don't outnumber all the reasons why," Nelson and Haggard sing. "So we keep smokin' and we keep drinkin'/ Havin fun and never thinkin'/ And laughin' at the price tag that we paid/ And we keep roarin' down the fast lane like two young men feelin' no pain/ And the reasons for quittin's getting bigger each day."

Listen here.

"Okie From Muskogee," Merle Haggard (Okie From Muskogee, 1969)

CIRCA LATE 1960s: Country musician Merle Haggard performs on stage with Bonnie Owens during a late 1960's concert.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

"We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee" -- that's how Merle Haggard kicks off this song about the straight-laced residents of Muskogee, Oklahoma. But the tounge-in-cheek nature of the tune led "Okie From Muskogee" to become part of the toking soundtrack for country stoners everywhere.

Listen here.

"Weed, Whiskey and Willie," Brothers Osborne (Port Saint Joe, 2018)

T.J. Osborne and John Osborne of Brothers Osborne accept the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for Younger Me onstage during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Denise Truscello/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Brothers Osborne celebrate three of their favorite things in life in this nod to both a musical and a THC high.

"I've got bottles and vinyl stacked to the ceilin'/ I get stoned for survival, it helps with the healin'," the duo sings. "And when it all goes to hell the only thing I believe in/ Is weed, whiskey, and Willie."

Listen here.

"Weed With Willie," Toby Keith (Shock 'N Y'all, 2003)

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Toby Keith performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Editorial Use Only.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Stories of getting stoned with the king of stoners, Willie Nelson, are legendary. Toby Keith sums up why it's not for the faint of heart in "Weed With Willie."

Listen here.

"Smoke a Little Smoke," Eric Church (Carolina, 2009)

Eric Church

Erika Goldring/WireImage

Eric Church shakes off a breakup by blazin' in this 2009 tune.

Turn the quiet up, turn the noise down/Let this ol' world just spin around," Church sings. "I wanna feel it swing, wanna feel it sway/ And put some feel good in my soul/ Drink a little drink, smoke a little smoke."

Listen here.

"You Don't Know How it Feels," Tom Petty (Wildflowers, 1994)

Tom Petty

Jerrod Harris/Getty Images

A country-rock classic, Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How it Feels" also goes down as an all time great weed song.

Listen here.

"Turtles All the Way Down," Sturgill Simpson (Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, 2014)

Sturgill Simpson performs at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images

A heady, psychedelic trip, "Turtles All the Way Down" is certainly about more than just smoking weed. Instead, the tune explores everything from mind altering substances to philosophy and religion.

Listen here.

"Willin'," Linda Ronstadt (Heart Like a Wheel, 1974)

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Linda Ronstadt

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Linda Ronstadt's stunning rendition of this Little Feat song references self-medicating -- for better or for worse.

Listen here.

"Get High," Brandy Clark (12 Stories, 2014)

CMA Fest 2017 Brandy Clark

Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images

Singer-songwriter Brandy Clark tells the story of a wife and mom who turns to smoking weed in her kitchen to slip away from her troubles for a while.

Listen here.

"Stop Drop and Roll One," Pistol Annies (Interstate Gospel, 2018)

Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, and Angaleena Presley of the Pistol Annies perform onstage during Miranda Lambert: Roadside Bars And Pink Guitars 2019 Tour featuring Caylee Hammack, Pistol Annies, Elle King and Miranda Lambert at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 14, 2019 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars 2019 Tour

Pistol Annies (Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley) spark one to deal with their increasing burnout on "Stop Drop and Roll One."

Listen here.

"High Time," Kacey Musgraves (Pageant Material, 2015)

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 06: Kacey Musgraves performs during Austin City Limits Festival at Zilker Park on October 06, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

"High Time," not Kacey Musgraves' first or last nod to ganja, finds the singer-songwriter re-assessing her priorities.

"It's high time/To slow my roll/Let the grass just grow and lean way back," Musgraves sings. "It's a fine time/
To let it all go/ I've been too low, so it's high time."

Listen here.

"Might as Well Get Stoned," Chris Stapleton (Traveller, 2014)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MAY 02: Chris Stapleton performs at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 2, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Chris Stapleton finds a brief escape for heartache and the worries of the world on this song from Traveller.

Listen here.

"Weed Instead of Roses," Ashley Monroe (Like a Rose, 2013)

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - SEPTEMBER 14: Ashley Monroe of the Pistol Annies performs onstage during Miranda Lambert: Roadside Bars And Pink Guitars 2019 Tour featuring Caylee Hammack, Pistol Annies, Elle King and Miranda Lambert at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 14, 2019 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars 2019 Tour

Ashley Monroe puts the spark back in a relationship with a request for weed instead of roses.

"Give me weed instead of roses," Monroe sings. "Bring me whiskey instead of wine/ Every puff, every shot, you're looking better all the time."

Listen here.

"It's All Going to Pot," Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Django and Jimmie, 2015)

Willie Nelson

Peter Pakvis/Redferns

Willie and Merle teamed up yet again with a call to legalize it.

Listen here.

"Follow Your Arrow," Kacey Musgraves (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)

Kacey Musgraves performs onstage during weekend one, day three of Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 09, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)

Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage

"When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint (or don't)," Kacey Musgraves sings on this 2013 hit. "Just follow your arrow wherever it points."
Listen here.

"Family Tradition," Hank Williams, Jr. (Family Tradition, 1979)

Hank Williams Jr performing in Birmingham, Alabama, May 7, 1985.

(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Hank Williams Jr. traces his family lineage in this country classic, asking "Hank why do you drink? Hank, why do you roll smoke?"

Listen here.

"Sunday Morning Coming Down," Kris Kristofferson (Kristofferson, 1970)

Kris Kristofferson during The Music Has Power Awards by the Institute for Music at Jazz at Lincoln Center - Time Warner Building in New York City, New York, United States.

Theo Wargo/WireImage

One of the greatest country songs ever written, Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" is about a down on his luck narrator, still reeling from the night before, taking stock of his life on a Sunday morning.

"On the Sunday morning sidewalk/ Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned," he sings. "'Cause there's something in a Sunday/Makes a body feel alone."

Listen here.

"Illegal Smile," John Prine (John Prine, 1971)

ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 12: Singer-songwriter John Prine hangs out on campus before being interviewed live on WRAS-FM at Georgia State College on November 12, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tom Hill/WireImage

One of many examples of John Prine's wit, "Illegal Smile" is all about a man trying to escape reality with the help of weed.

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
I was havin' no fun
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No, I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Listen here.

"Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" Willie Nelson (Heroes, 2012)

AUSTIN, TX - JULY 04: <> on July 4, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

Gary Miller/Getty Images for Shock Ink

Leave it to Willie Nelson to record the ultimate anthem for country music loving potheads. "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" is the Red Headed Stranger's last will and testament. Fittingly, the song was released on April 20, 2012 (4/20).

"Roll me up and smoke me when I die/And if anyone don't like it, just look 'em in the eye," Nelson sings. "I didn't come here, and I ain't leavin'/ So don't sit around and cry/ Just roll me up and smoke me when I die."

Listen here.

Check out our Cannabis Country playlist below. 

READ MORE: Every Time Willie Nelson Has Been Busted For Weed