Elton John believes weed legalisation is “one of the greatest mistakes of all time”
The legalisation of marijuana is a topic that has grown more traction in recent years as an increasing number of states in the United States have made it legal. At the same time, European countries such as Germany and Georgia have also legalised marijuana for recreational use, but Elton John believes this to be a mistake.
John has a history of substance abuse, and while it wasn’t weed that caused his health problems, he cites it as a gateway drug. The singer has spoken recently about his past addiction problems and, subsequently, why he believes the legalisation of weed could do more harm than good.
“Legalising marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time,” he said in an interview with Time, “I maintain that it’s addictive. It leads to other drugs. And when you’re stoned – and I’ve been stoned – you don’t think normally.”
This is a topic that John certainly feels strongly about. After struggling with addiction himself, he was able to get sober in 1990 and has remained ever since. He has also helped other big names with addiction, acting as Eminem’s sponsor and helping organise Robbie Williams’ first trip to rehab. The musician also attempted to reach out to George Michael when he was struggling.
In the same interview, John was asked about his opinion on alcohol. When answering, he turned to his husband, David Furnish, who is also sober. Furnish helped with the question, saying that while alcohol has a strong cultural presence, there are studies available that state it could be a lot less healthy than people initially believed.
Elton John’s history of addiction
It’s no secret that Elton has an extensive history of drug addiction, but the musician was able to overcome it and is constantly helping other people do the same. “I still dream, twice a week at least, that I’ve taken cocaine and I have it up my nose,” said John in a 2012 interview with NPR, “And it’s very vivid and it’s very upsetting, but at least it’s a wake-up call.”
The singer’s addiction struggles occurred in the 1970s and 80s, initially turning to drugs in a bid to combat his shyness, which eventually became all-consuming. “This is how bleak it was,” he said on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2010, “I’d stay up, I’d smoke joints, I’d drink a bottle of Johnnie Walker and then I’d stay up for three days and then I’d go to sleep for a day and half.”
He continued, “[(’d) get up and because I was so hungry, because I hadn’t eaten anything, I’d binge and have like three bacon sandwiches, a pot of ice cream and then I’d throw it up, because I became bulimic and then go and do the whole thing all over again.”
Substance abuse nearly killed John, but he managed to kick the habit. He cites Ryan White as a big help in getting sober. White was an AIDS patient who John met and became a source of inspiration during his darkest hour. “I wanted to help them, but they ended up helping me much more,” said John, “Ryan was the spark that helped me to recover from my addictions and start the AIDS foundation. Within six months [of White’s death] I became sober, and clean, and have been for 27 years.”
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