British music icon Sir Elton John has been honored as Time’s Icon of the Year for 2024, and he hasn’t held back in expressing his strong opposition to the legalization of marijuana in the United States and Canada. “I firmly believe it’s addictive,” he stated in a recent interview. “It can lead to the use of other drugs. And when you’re under the influence—and I’ve been there—your thinking is not clear. Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is, in my view, one of the biggest mistakes ever made.”
John’s comments come as more than 20 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana for adults, with additional states permitting its medical use. Although cannabis remains federally illegal, the Justice Department has recently suggested reclassifying it. Meanwhile, in Canada, cannabis was fully legalized for both recreational and medical purposes in October 2018.
The 77-year-old singer, who has been sober since 1990, shared candidly about his past struggles. “It’s hard to tell someone they’re being an asshole, and it’s even harder to hear it,” John admitted. “Eventually, I realized I needed to own up to my own behavior.” He added, “Drugs lead to terrible decisions. I was so desperate for love that I would take hostages. I’d get involved with someone, spend months together, and then they’d resent me because their life revolved solely around me. Reflecting on it now, I’m deeply upset by how many people I likely hurt.”
On a more positive note, Dua Lipa, who collaborated with John on the hit song ‘Cold Heart,’ praised him in her Time interview. “Singing alongside one of my musical heroes was an easy decision. His music has been a constant in my life from the very start.” Rising star Chappell Roan also expressed her admiration, describing John as a crucial mentor and “one of the original queens.” Roan shared, “He told me that songs will come when they’re ready. He spoke about the time after his first album, when he worried the ideas would dry up, but they didn’t. He just had to let them flow. It’s a valuable lesson.”
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