Elton John, one of the most iconic musicians to have ever lived, recently made headlines after he had some very strong comments opposing the legalization of marijuana. Speaking to Time magazine, where he had been named 2024 “Icon of the Year,” the legendary musician labeled marijuana legalization “one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”
John’s personal experience-laced point of view has restirred debate about drugs policy, addiction, and public health and has received both accolades and criticism worldwide.
During the interview, Elton John sounded very concerned with the potential risks of marijuana and especially with the possibility of getting addicted. He named the herb a stepping-stone drug, stating: “I maintain that it’s addictive. It leads to other drugs. And when you’re stoned—and I’ve been stoned—you don’t think normally.”
This is John’s position, the result of a lifetime of reflecting on the dangers of substance use. He has been quite vocal about his sobriety journey, which began in 1990, and attributes much of his success in recovery to recognizing how drugs had taken a hold on him. For John, it is not just the question of marijuana; the bottom-line issue is the wider context of substances being misused.
Elton John’s strong stance against marijuana is forged in the fire of his addictive struggles. In his candid reflection, therefore, he recalls how drugs heavily took their toll on his life, impaired his decision-making, and strained his relationships.
“You make terrible choices about drugs,” he said, sharing how substance abuse affected his ability to function and relate to others meaningfully. During Ryan White’s funeral-the young victim of AIDS, whose tragic death really struck him-a moment of clarity reached John. That pushed him into getting help, and he has been sober for over three decades now.
He also showed how his addiction had made him vulnerable to bad relationships and self-destructive behaviors. John, who was introduced to cocaine by his then-manager and partner John Reid, explained how the need for love and acceptance had led him to decisions he would later come to regret.
Elton John’s sobriety went past his personal journey. Over the years, he has been very supportive of others fighting their addiction, supporting fellow artists like Eminem and Robbie Williams.
He also was aware of the pain there were those he wasn’t able to help. Speaking about George Michael, who died while he was struggling against substance abuse, John said, “You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.” These experiences give a base to his belief in the need for a compassionate and urgent approach toward addiction.
People’s opinions on Elton John’s statement are polar opposites. Some hail him as a hero for bringing to light the dangers of drug use given his own personal struggles with the issue, saying, “His life is a testament to what drugs can do to an individual and how much it takes to get back up from it.” Others are quick to point out that marijuana views by Chong have become outdated.
Most scientific scholarship has by now debunked the myth that marijuana is definitely a gateway drug or highly addictive for most of its users. Public health experts also note that, in most places, the legalization of marijuana brought regulation, lower rates of incarceration, and millions of dollars in new tax revenues. John’s opinion, though based on his personal experience, has also been confronted because he failed to show the possible medicinal effects of marijuana. According to many activists, cannabis has relieved many suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy, and other illnesses.
