Willie, Weed, and the Winspear

Willie Nelson’s recent pot bust in Hudspeth County was a smoking-hot topic at last night’s big do for Virgin America at the Winspear, where Nelson did a show. Introducing the Red Headed Stranger, Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson joked onstage that Willie’s feeling fine, because “he lost six ounces” the other day. Then he added, seriously, how great it would be if marijuana were decriminalized. (Big whoop from the crowd at that.)

Nelson, for his part, has used the arrest to jump-start a pro-weed movement he’s calling The Teapot Party (see his Facebook page here). But at a pre-concert reception, the singer (pictured) seemed nonchalant about the affair. How’s he coping with the hassle? “No problem,” Nelson replied. Well, at least news like that keeps his name out there, somebody suggested. Said Nelson, grinning: “It’s a hard way to do it.”