Elton John has strongly criticized the legalization of marijuana in parts of North America, saying it is "one of the biggest mistakes of all time".
The musician, who has been clean of all psychoactive substances, including alcohol, for 34 years has helped many celebrities, including Eminem and Robbie Williams, recover from addiction.
John, who was named Time magazine's icon of the year, told the magazine that it was "hard to listen" to how bad his behavior had become and said that admitting that fact helped him recover from addiction.
The famous musician said that marijuana is addictive and leads to other drugs.
"And when you are under the influence of drugs, and I was, you don't think normally. The legalization of marijuana in America and Canada is one of the biggest mistakes of all time," he is convinced.
In a 1999 interview with David Frost, John revealed that the throat problems he had while touring Australia in the mid-80s were caused by marijuana, and said he had stopped using the drug on medical advice.
In Canada, marijuana has been legalized for adults, with certain restrictions, including the amount people can possess and distribute, since 2018. Many US states, including California, have also legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, although it is still illegal in other states .
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