The veteran rocker, aged 73, was busted yesterday for possession of Schedule I drugs, after police officers found in his tour bus a considerable quantity of marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms. He and other four persons traveling with him were cited for misdemeanor and then released.

Nelson was driving from a Sunday gig in Montgomery, when the bus was pulled over on Louisiana highway. When the police officer opened the door of the bus to speak to the driver, he instantaneously smelt marijuana and asked the passengers to step out of the vehicle for a closer inspection, a statement from the police said.

All of them complied with the order and none tried to hide the 1 ½ pound of marijuana or the three ounces of psychedelic mushrooms. The large amount of drugs would have been more than enough for a more serious charge, had not the five persons involved claimed that it was their own, for their personal use. So, instead of possession and distribution charges, they will have to answer only to the possession count.

None of the persons caught with drugs opposed arrest or made any problems. Citations were released on their names and they were allowed to go home. The police statement did not say when they are to report to court.