[Berman:] He a music legend, an American icon, and he likes pot. Willie Nelson, a man who makes music and news.
[Pereira:] He's part of a White House Salute to the Troops that is set to air tonight on PBS. Our Brooke Baldwin asked him about this week's victory for marijuana legalization in the capital and whether it will help smoke out some of the gridlock.
[Brooke Baldwin, Cnn Correspondent:] Do you think it would help people in D.C. Get along?
[Willie Nelson, Singer:] Well, I really think stress is the cause of a lot of our problems and I really believe the best medicine for stress is pot. Yeah, I think it would make us get along better all over the world.
[Baldwin:] I want you to tell me what you did on the roof of the White House.
[Nelson:] Well, Brooke, it's that short-term memory thing.
[Baldwin:] Oh, come on, we've talked about it on CNN before.
[Nelson:] Well, I'll tell you this much. Up on top of the White House it's really a great scene up there. All of the roads come together up there and you feel like you're at the center of the world.
[Baldwin:] Is this anything you will address this with the White House as you enter said White House?
[Nelson:] Oh, I probably won't say anything to the president about it. But I think I realize how he feels about it and I've read his books about when he was a kid that he may have delved into that matter a little bit, so I'm sure he's understanding of what is going on and he may be happy to see it happening.
[Pereira:] Brooke Baldwin graces our set today. So lovely to have you here
[Baldwin:] Hello.
[Pereira:] fresh off your conversation with the legend. How great is this?
[Baldwin:] Listen, any day is a good day when you get to talk to Willie Nelson. So we initially
[Berman:] Everyday is a great day for Willie Nelson.
[Baldwin:] Every day is a wonderful day for Willie Nelson. When we talked about the Salute to the Troops event airing on PBS and issues are near-and-dear to his heart, and then given the news worthiness I saw that eyebrow raised, Michaela. It was Alaska, D.C., and Oregon passing different pro-pot ballot measures, I wanted his thoughts. And I was sort of surprised. I talked to him. He has a wonderful relationship with Jimmy Carter. He's absolutely taken a bit of a toke on roof of the White House during the Carter administration. I said, Willie, is that true, is it myth? And he said, well, I didn't exactly roll it. Before I was on top, maybe, before I went up there. True story. But I asked how long he thinks it is will take half of the country to legalize recreational use of marijuana and he seems to think not very long.
[Berman:] We can joke about it, going into that interview, it makes me hungry.
[Baldwin:] This is something that has been near and dear to him for a long, long time. I didn't actually expect him to say, yes, I plan to address this with President Obama when we sing "On the Road Again." But it's been incredibly important to him. He's been a voice in this mass legalization movement. So as we're watching and seriously covering state by state by state, I think it will not be too long before we see the tides turning.
[Pereira:] Especially because for him, look it, how old is he? He's
[Baldwin:] His hard trigger is 50. I know that. So he's north of 70.
[Pereira:] It's not just a thing he did in his youth. It's been a lifestyle for him. And if anybody is at the forefront of this conversation, he'd be the one to broach it with the president.
[Baldwin:] Well, I doubt they had the conversation yesterday.
[Berman:] He was on the tour bus?
[Baldwin:] He was on the tour bus. Live from the tour bus. Thank you very much, Willie Nelson. You know when you show up, the painting on the side, you know where he is in town. And it was so wonderful for him to set up shop and talk to us. And, again, hours before the Salute to the Troops event at the White House.
[Pereira:] Tonight on
[Pbs. Baldwin:] Tonight on
[Pbs. Berman:] A great cause.
[Pereira:] Watch it.
[Berman:] Brooke Baldwin, great to have you here.
[Pereira:] What a treat for us. Thank you.
[Baldwin:] You're welcome. Always.
[Pereira:] That's it for us at this hour. And that's it for us this week at this hour.
[Berman:] That's Michaela Pereira.
[Pereira:] And you're John Berman.
[Berman:] "LEGAL VIEW" starts next with Ashleigh Banfield.