British music legend Sir Elton John has reignited debate over marijuana legalisation in America and Canada with his sharp criticism of the policy.
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“I maintain that it’s addictive,” John said in an interview with the magazine.
“It leads to other drugs. And when you’re stoned – and I’ve been stoned – you don’t think normally. Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”
John’s comments refer to the growing trend of marijuana legalisation in North America.
Over 20 US states have approved recreational use for adults, and even more allow its medical use.
While cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the United States, the Justice Department recently proposed reclassifying it. In Canada, marijuana has been fully legal for recreational and medical use since October 2018.
Sober since 1990, John reflected on his past struggles with addiction, admitting that his drug use had significant consequences on his personal life and relationships.
“It’s tough to tell someone that they’re being an asshole, and it’s tough to hear,” he said. “Eventually I made the choice to admit that I’m being an asshole.”
Recalling his days of substance abuse, he added, “You make terrible decisions on drugs. I wanted love so badly, I’d just take hostages. I’d see someone I liked and spend three or four months together, and then they would resent me because they had nothing in their life apart from me. It really upsets me, thinking back on how many people I probably hurt.”
Amid the controversy, John’s Time’s Icon of the Year status has drawn admiration from fellow artists.
Pop sensation Dua Lipa, who collaborated with John on the chart-topping track Cold Heart, expressed her respect: “Singing alongside one of my musical heroes was a no-brainer. His music has been able to soundtrack my life from the very beginning.”
Breakout artist Chappell Roan also praised John as a mentor and inspiration, calling him “one of the original queens.”
She shared his advice to her during a moment of doubt: “The advice he gave me was that the songs will come. He thought that he wouldn’t have the ideas, but they were absolutely there. He just had to let them come to him. So that’s a good reminder.”
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