Tesla shares plunge after Elon Musk is filmed smoking weed

On Thursday, 6 September CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk sat down for an interview with comedian Joe Rogan. The talk was streamed live as part of the comedian's podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience'. 

For over two hours Elon and Joe covered a range of topics including sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, and, of course, the infamous flame throwers. But it was not the content of the interview that caught viewers' attention as much as it was Elon's choice to take a puff of marijuana while he chatted. 

When Joe said that Elon would likely not be able to smoke "because of stockholders", Elon said that it is "legal", referring to the state of California's relaxed laws around marijuana usage. 

The legality of his actions may not be in question but many are questioning whether this was the right decision for Elon to make in terms of preserving the image of Tesla Inc. In light of past concerns about Elon's use of Ambien, a sleeping pill, this public use of recreational drugs raises questions about the CEO's health. 

Following the podcast, news of staff members including a chief accounting officer, the HR chief and the vice president of communications leaving the company was made public. Additionally, Tesla's stock has gone down by nine percent. 

ALSO READ: Elon Musk muses about life over whiskey and weed

The resignations had been previously planned and cannot be directly linked to Elon smoking weed on Joe's podcast. However, Elon's bizarre behaviour did not inspire confidence that Tesla was being led by someone who was concerned with righting the company's reputation. 

When a CEO has a public persona, it is crucial for them to think carefully about what they do and when, a lesson which Elon seems reluctant to take to heart. 

ALSO READ: Elderly body surfer is California's 'human thermometer'