Tesla CEO Elon Musk appears to smoke marijuana during rambling interview with Joe Rogan

Tesla CEO appears to smoke marijuana during rambling live interview as friends ask him: ‘What the hell are you doing?’

Elon Musk was filmed smoking during a rambling interview for the Joe Rogan Experience.

Elon Musk appeared to smoke marijuana during a live interview overnight, in which he spoke for more than 2½ hours on topics ranging from the dangers of artificial intelligence to his use of Twitter.

The Tesla Inc. chief executive appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” one of the world’s most popular podcasts, which is also streamed live on YouTube and hosted by comedian Joe Rogan. After more than two hours of rambling discussion that included drinking whiskey, Mr. Rogan lit what he said was “marijuana inside of tobacco” and asked Mr. Musk if he had ever smoked such a joint before.

“I think I tried one once,” Mr. Musk said, laughing. “You probably can’t because of stockholders, right?” Mr. Rogan asked. “I mean, it’s legal right?” Mr. Musk said. “Totally legal,” Mr. Rogan replied. The interview was filmed in the Los Angeles metro area, where marijuana is allowed under state law.

Mr. Musk then put the joint to his mouth and took one puff, a plume of smoke billowing around him, before handing it back.

Shares tumbled after the interview was broadcast.

The event was jarring not only because it involved the chief executive of a large publicly traded corporation, but also one who is under immense scrutiny for his occasional public outbursts.

In the past few months, Mr. Musk has lashed out at analysts on a quarterly conference call for asking “boring, bonehead” questions, suggested on Twitter that a British cave explorer was a paedophile, and most recently declared in a tweet he had secured funding to take Tesla private when it later was revealed he was still finalising a deal.

Following the spell of erratic behaviour, some investors and analysts have questioned Mr. Musk’s fitness as CEO. Friends and family say they are concerned Mr. Musk is fatigued and overworked. Mr. Musk has difficulty sleeping and has talked about using the sleeping drug Ambien. When the drug doesn’t work, weariness saps his productivity the next day, according to a person familiar with his usage.

In early trading Friday, Tesla’s stock fell more than 8% to around $257.50. Also Friday, Tesla said its accounting chief left the company after less than a month on the job, citing the level of public attention on the electric-car maker and becoming the latest in a string of executive departures from the company.

Mr. Musk’s rare lengthy interview with Mr. Rogan was provocative, at times turning personal. The entrepreneur explored his concerns about the danger of artificial intelligence and realisation that few people were listening to him, while also highlighting his sense of humour and exploring his visionary side, especially when he hinted at ideas he has for an electric supersonic aeroplane and what he can do to make the future better.

“A future where we are a space-bearing civilisation—and out there among the stars—this is very exciting, this makes me look forward to the future,” he said, reiterating his long-held belief of space travel. “There need to be things that make you look forward to waking up in the morning.”

At times, Mr. Musk showed a deeply personal side, describing how even at a young age, his mind exploded with ideas—“a never-ending explosion”—and his efforts at meditation to calm his thoughts, noting he wasn’t drawn to it frequently.

“I thought I was insane,” he said of his childhood. Other people’s minds “weren’t exploding with ideas all of the time.”

Moments after appearing to smoke the marijuana, Mr. Musk said he started receiving text messages from friends “saying what the hell are you doing smoking weed?” He told Mr. Rogan, “I’m not a regular smoker of weed.”

He added that he “almost never” smokes it, noting that he didn’t feel an effect.

“I know a lot of people like weed—and that’s fine—but I don’t find that it is very useful for productivity,” Mr. Musk said.

Twitter immediately erupted with comments about Mr. Musk’s actions, including from some short sellers who are betting against Tesla. One user named TeslaCharts simply posted: “OMFG.”

Tesla erupts into stock-plunging chaos after senior execs quit, Elon Musk takes toke https://t.co/mfnOu4n1dj pic.twitter.com/LzN6psKdbT

— Financial Post (@financialpost) September 7, 2018

Last month, singer Azealia Banks suggested on Instagram that Mr. Musk used LSD while tweeting. A spokesperson for Mr. Musk called that claim “complete nonsense.” Ms. Banks, who later apologised, made the accusation in the days after Mr. Musk’s Aug. 7 tweet saying he was considering taking Tesla private at $420, a number associated with marijuana.

Mr. Musk scrapped the idea 16 days later and now faces an investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission into whether he misled investors. The Tesla board wasn’t happy with Mr. Musk’s use of Twitter and told him to be more careful, a person familiar with the matter previously told The Wall Street Journal.

Regarding his thoughts on Twitter, Mr. Musk said he tries to ignore most negative comments “but every now and again, you get drawn in. It’s not good. You can make mistakes.”

He ended the interview by saying people should be nicer to each other. “Don’t assume they’re mean until you actually know they are mean,“ Mr. Musk said. ”It’s easy to demonise people—you’re usually wrong about it. People are nicer than you think.”

- Wall Street Journal