Willie Nelson Pot Bust Not Such a Bust After All

Possession charge knocked down to a misdemeanor, which takes jail time off the table

By Natalie Finn Dec 03, 2010 10:50 PMTags
Willie NelsonChristopher Chung/ZUMAPress.com

Willie Nelson has never been so happy about losing 2 ounces of pot.

The hirsute country singer has been charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after Texas authorities knocked the original, felonious amount he was allegedly caught with down from 6 ounces to 4 ounces.

So, instead of a buzz-busting 180 days in jail and a $10,000 fine, Nelson is facing just a lesser fine.

The "On the Road Again" singer was arrested Nov. 26 en route from California to Austin, Texas, when border patrol agents searched his tour bus at a checkpoint. He was released after posting $2,500 bail.

"He said he feels great—he lost six ounces," Nelson's longtime harmonica player, Mickey Raphael, joked to Rolling Stone.