Jelly Roll claims marijuana has kept him ‘sober’ from hard drugs: ‘This is a hot button topic’

Music

By Sara Whitman

Country star Jelly Roll has credited marijuana with keeping him away from hard drugs.

“I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll’s drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again, but a world with weed, I’ll be alright,” he told Taste of Country in an interview published Friday.

“I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety,” he added.

“This is a hot button topic, but, truly, marijuana has kept me sober.”

Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, has been open about his past struggles with addiction and substance abuse. He even landed himself in the slammer at 23 years old for drug dealing, according to his June 2023 interview with Billboard.

While the 39-year-old “Wild Ones” hitmaker isn’t fully sober, he is passionate about helping people stay away from dangerous drugs. In January, he addressed the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and urged legislators to take action against the supply and distribution of fentanyl in the U.S.

“At every concert I perform, I witness the heartbreaking impact of fentanyl,” he candidly explained. “I see fans grappling with this tragedy in the form of music … that they seek solace in music and hope that their experiences won’t befall others.”

“I’m not here to defend the use of illegal drugs, and I also understand the paradox of my history as a drug dealer standing in front of this committee,” he went on.

“But equally, I think that’s what makes me perfect to talk about this. I was a part of the problem. I am here now standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution.”

Last December, Jelly Roll told People that it was of utmost importance to him to use his platform for good and give people who are struggling with drug abuse a chance at living a fulfilling life.

“I always said that if I ever got in this situation, I would do everything I could to give back,” he explained. “The fact that just me showing up places can make people happy is such a gift, and I feel like if God gave me that gift, I should show up.”

Jelly Roll — who recently admitted he hates most of his tattoos — was incarcerated several times for drug-related charges before he became a successful ACM-winning artist. His troubles with the law even lost him the privilege to vote.

However, he earned his GED while locked up at the age of 23 and has worked to make his life meaningful and full.

In addition to crediting weed with helping him stay sober from hard drugs, he has also praised his wife of eight years, Bunnie XO, for helping him stay on a positive path and be able to raise his daughter, Bailee, and son, Noah.

“You’re talking about a woman that came in and took a child that was soon to be born and a child that [we were] soon to have full custody of,” he raved to Billboard.

“I would have never got custody of my daughter without her. I wouldn’t have had the stability or the money.”

Bunnie XO, 44, has also been by Jelly Roll’s side as he focuses on his physical health. In 2018, he revealed he lost about 200 pounds after tipping the scale at over 500.

Last month, she revealed he quit social media after repeated negative comments about his size “hurt him.”

“Don’t bully people, because you never know where they are mentally,” she pleaded.

“There are a lot of people who are not as strong as me, that are on the internet, and they don’t deserve to f—kin’ be bullied.”