Elton John recalls times he was 'stoned', calls marijuana legalization one of the 'greatest mistakes'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Elton John has spoken out against the legalization of marijuana, calling it one of the “greatest mistakes of all time.”

In an interview with Time, where he was named Icon of the Year, the 77-year-old music legend expressed concerns over the addictive nature of cannabis and its impact on cognitive function.

Elton John on 'addictive' marijuana

Speaking about the addictive nature of marijuana, Elton John said, “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,” he shared.

Reflecting on his own past struggles with substance abuse, John recounted his experiences with cocaine, introduced to him by his former manager and lover, John Reid.

The turning point in his life came following the death of his friend Ryan White, a teenager who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.

Deeply moved by the tragedy, John checked into Chicago’s Parkside Lutheran Hospital on July 29, 1990, and has been sober ever since.

“It all came to a climax, really, at the Ryan White funeral in Indianapolis, a really sad and emotional week,” he recalled.

“I came back to the hotel thinking I’m just so out of line. It was a shock to see how far down the scale of humanity I’d fallen,” he added.

Elton John says drugs make you take 'terrible decisions'

Elton John spoke candidly about the destructive decisions he made while under the influence.

“You make terrible decisions on drugs. I wanted love so badly, I’d just take hostages," he admitted.

"I’d see someone I liked and spend three or four months together, and then they would resent me because they had nothing in their life apart from me," the musician continued.

"It really upsets me, thinking back on how many people I probably hurt,” John shared.

Elton John's sobriety journey

Now decades into his sobriety, Elton John has used his experiences to help others struggling with addiction.

He supported Boy George during his sobriety journey and served as Eminem’s Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, a detail revealed in his 2019 memoir, 'Me'.

However, John acknowledged the difficulty of intervening in others’ lives, citing his unsuccessful attempts to help George Michael, who died on Christmas Day, December 25, 2016, from heart disease and fatty liver, conditions often linked to substance abuse.

“It’s tough to tell someone that they’re being an a—hole, and it’s tough to hear,” John said, reflecting on his own path to recovery.

“Eventually I made the choice to admit that I’m being an a—hole,” he added, according to People.