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Elton John has serious concerns about the shifting legal status of marijuana.
In a Time interview published online Wednesday, the musician took issue with the legalization of the drug in parts of North America.
“I maintain that it’s addictive,” said John, who was named the magazine’s 2024 “Icon of the Year.”
“It leads to other drugs,” he added.
The “I’m Still Standing” singer focused his criticism on marijuana’s impact on the mental state of users.
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“And when you’re stoned—and I’ve been stoned—you don’t think normally,” he explained. “Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”
Elton John appears on opening night of the Broadway musical “Tammy Faye” in New York City last month.Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
In Canada, recreational cannabis use was legalized for adults back in 2018, with medical use permitted years earlier.
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Meanwhile, more than 20 states in the U.S., as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults, with an even larger number allowing medical use. Though it remains illegal at the federal level, earlier this year the Justice Department formally moved to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, recognizing its medical uses. The