Elton John says legalizing marijuana is ‘one of many biggest errors’

Elton John has been sober since 1990 — and he thinks a current coverage shift may lead extra folks down the trail to dependancy.

The “Rocket Man” singer denounced the legalization of leisure marijuana throughout his TIME Icon of the 12 months profile. “I keep that it’s addictive. It results in different medication. And once you’re stoned — and I’ve been stoned — you don’t suppose usually,” John stated. “Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is without doubt one of the biggest errors of all time.”

Marijuana is presently authorized in 25 U.S. states, and federally authorized in Canada. Different nations, together with Mexico, South Africa, and Germany, have legalized marijuana within the final decade. In its data web page on hashish, the CDC notes that specialists disagree on whether or not it lives as much as its long-held fame as a “gateway drug” that results in additional dependancy. Nevertheless, the well being company additionally experiences that “individuals who use hashish and do go on to make use of different medication (together with alcohol and tobacco) might have a better danger of dependence or dependancy to these medication.”

John reiterated that his personal use of medicine had disastrous results on his private life. “You make horrible choices on medication,” he defined. “I needed love so badly, I’d simply take hostages. I’d see somebody I appreciated and spend three or 4 months collectively, after which they’d resent me as a result of that they had nothing of their life aside from me. It actually upsets me, pondering again on how many individuals I in all probability damage.”

The musician famous that clouded judgment from intoxication makes it troublesome for addicts to personal their dangerous habits. “It’s robust to inform somebody that they’re being an a–hole, and it’s robust to listen to,” John stated. “Finally I made the selection to confess that I’m being an a–hole.” 

John attributes three forces in his life as his major motivations for getting sober: Alcoholics Nameless, buying the soccer membership Watford FC, and an HIV-positive Indianan teenager named Ryan White. “All of it got here to a climax, actually, on the Ryan White funeral in Indianapolis — a very unhappy and emotional week — and I got here again to the lodge pondering I’m simply so out of line,” the singer stated. “It was a shock to see how far down the size of humanity I’d fallen.”

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John additionally stated that his journey to sobriety has felt spiritually vital. “I don’t actually consider within the biblical God an excessive amount of, however I’ve religion,” he defined. “My increased energy has been taking care of me all my life; he’s obtained me via medication, he’s obtained me via melancholy, he’s obtained me via loneliness, and he obtained me sober. He’s been there on a regular basis, I believe. I simply didn’t acknowledge him.”

Elsewhere within the profile, the “Candle within the Wind” singer famous his disdain for showing on digital camera. “Music movies must be made by handsome folks like Harry Kinds,” he stated. “I’m not superb at myself. I don’t suppose you ever lose that physique consciousness. I simply suppose it stays with you without end. However I’m a lot better.” 

Regardless of his digital camera shyness, John is the topic of a brand new documentary, Elton John: By no means Too Late. The movie premieres on Disney+ on Friday.

John additionally penned a tribute to Chappell Roan as a part of Leisure Weekly‘s 2024 Entertainers of the 12 months. “It’s thrilling to witness the beginning of what guarantees to be a really outstanding profession,” he wrote. “I’ve little doubt she is going to proceed to encourage, problem, and convey pleasure to audiences all over the world.” Learn John’s full salute to Roan right here.