As a long-time fan who has followed Elton John‘s incredible journey from the early days of his career to his current status as a living legend, I find myself both surprised and saddened by his recent comments on marijuana legalization.
In a concluding part of his interview with Time magazine, where he was being honored as Icon of the Year, Elton John made a surprising statement: “The legalization of marijuana in America and Canada is arguably one of the biggest blunders ever committed.
This comment was made previously: “I believe it’s habit-forming, can lead to the use of other substances, and when under its influence – as I have experienced – one does not think clearly.
Immediately following its release, various media platforms, such as my site CelebStoner, took notice of it. Critics among music enthusiasts swiftly voiced their disapproval of John’s statements, referencing his previous struggles with cocaine addiction, an issue he openly discussed during the interview.
“One Facebook user criticized him, saying, ‘How disappointing,’ while another suggested, ‘He should try a joint.’
Audrey Clark from the band 360′ commented, ‘A mistake indeed. Perhaps he needs to give marijuana a try.’
Edward Grimes, an activist in New Jersey, pointed out, ‘Laws don’t seem to matter much when you’re a billionaire with a privileged background.’
Meanwhile, Keith Saunders from NORML (the marijuana law reform group) jested, ‘Now we know why he never made a reggae song.’
In 2020, John reminisced about an instance where he was listening to Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” while smoking marijuana and thought he glimpsed a divine presence. However, today John has changed his perspective on cannabis, as it never led him to a drug overdose like he did with cocaine in 1975, as portrayed in the biopic “Rocketman”.
It has been shown repeatedly that John’s claim about cannabis leading to harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin is not valid. As Healthline explains, while it’s true that many individuals try cannabis before moving on to other substances, this doesn’t necessarily mean that using cannabis causes them to do other drugs. Instead, it could be that cannabis, like alcohol and nicotine, is often more readily available and affordable, so someone who intends to use these substances may start with cannabis first.
Simultaneously, the concept of “California sober,” which involves using cannabis as a means to wean individuals struggling with substance abuse off stronger opiates and similar substances, has garnered support in recent times. Additionally, there’s been a push to reclassify cannabis federally from a Schedule I narcotic, considered drugs “with a high risk of abuse and no accepted medical use in the U.S.,” to Schedule III. This reclassification would be more reflective of current times and would remove the discrepancy between state and federal laws concerning criminal charges for cannabis possession or use.
Regarding John’s statement that marijuana legalization is “the biggest blunder ever,” it seems difficult to comprehend. Does John want people to keep getting jailed for marijuana possession? He himself has never been arrested, has no mug shot, and hasn’t spent any time behind bars. As a fortunate rock star who survived the ’70s and ’80s, he was an exception compared to many of his peers. Furthermore, it can be debated that the majority of Americans disagree: over half of America allows marijuana for medical purposes in 38 states; 24 states have laws permitting recreational use, decisions made by the people themselves through voting.
In his 2012 book “Love Is the Cure”, John admitted his lack of knowledge about drugs and innocence regarding their usage. His band had been smoking marijuana for years, yet he was unaware of what a joint was. Moreover, he had never encountered cocaine in his life, but in an act of bravado or perhaps curiosity, he tried it. This initial experience with cocaine set off a chain of events… He often claimed that cocaine helped him open up and converse easily with others. However, over time, this drug transformed from an opening force to a closing one. The final fortnight of his cocaine use was spent isolated in a London room, using the substance without leaving for two weeks straight. This prolonged usage ultimately led to him shutting himself off completely.
During an interview with Time magazine, he additionally expressed his concerns: “Making poor choices under the influence of drugs is truly disheartening to think about. Reflecting on it now, I can’t help but feel that I may have unintentionally caused harm to many people.
Bernie Taupin shared with Time magazine, “I felt fear for him. It was truly awful. Much of the work we produced during his darkest periods didn’t showcase our best abilities. I couldn’t invest creatively in writing material about him until he had found himself, and then it became easier for me to reflect on the situation.
Taupin, who’s openly discussed his personal struggles with drugs, could possibly be alluding to tracks such as the lively 1977 disco hit, “Bite Your Lip (Dance It Out)”.
In the year 1990, John received medical attention at Lutheran General Hospital in Illinois for struggles with substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) as well as a compulsion towards excessive eating. Later on, he became a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Since then, he has managed to maintain his sobriety.
At the age of 77, John has stopped touring and is currently battling sudden blindness due to an eye infection. One might assume that given his condition and the knowledge that cannabis can assist individuals with glaucoma, he would be more open to its use or even consider trying it again himself.
Steve Bloom is the founder of CelebStoner.
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2024-12-13 23:55