Willie Nelson Says He Has Quit Smoking. The 86-year-old cites breathing and health problems as the main reasons. I have abused my lungs quite a bit in the past, so breathing is a little more difficult these days and I have to be careful, Willie Nelson, to CNN affiliate KSAT . This past August, Nelson delayed a music tour over issues with his breathing. He soon resumed the tour and has no plans to stop performing. I started smoking cedar bark, went from that to cigarettes to whatever. I don't smoke anymore -- take better care of myself, Willie Nelson, to CNN affiliate KSAT . Nelson has long supported marijuana legalization and the use of industrial hemp. In 2015, he started his own line of cannabis called "Willie's Reserve."
