Video: Tesla trouble after Musk appears to smoke weed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtB8dgM9SY8

Tesla shares dropped around 6% on September 8 after chief executive officer Elon Musk appeared to smoke marijuana during an interview.

Musk appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience”, and during the podcast (featuring on YouTube) Musk seems to inhale from what the host says is a combined marijuana-tobacco joint, which Rogan notes is legal (in California).

Rogan passes it to Musk, who also appears to have a sip of whiskey.

Shortly after, Musk looks at his phone and laughs, telling Rogan he’s getting texts from friends asking why he’s smoking weed during the interview.

Later, Musk is reported as saying he didn’t notice any effect from the joint.

As the video gained more attention, further bad news came with Tesla announcing chief accounting officer Dave Morton’s resignation after a month in the job, citing public attention and the fast pace of the job.

Tesla’s human resources boss or “chief people officer” Gaby Toledano is also reported to be leaving.

Meanwhile, Musk and Tesla are under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission after share prices jumped in response to Musk saying he would consider Tesla going private – later rejecting the idea.

Legal action is also planned by a prominent short seller, and there’s a possibility of defamation action from a diver involved in the Thai cave rescue for remarks Musk made, overseas media report.

Tesla faces pressure to produce a net profit from this quarter, as Musk has promised,

He says the company is on track, producing more than 5000 Model 3s a week, and that money from the sales will bring sustained quarterly profits and pay the bills.

The company says that following Morton’s immediate resignation, Tesla’s accounting functions will be overseen by its chief financial officer and corporate controller.