Rock Icon No Fan of New Jersey Weed Laws

If someone decided to change our state slogan from the Garden State to the Weed State, I don't think I'd object.

So many places around our state seem to have that distinct smell of skunk in the air.

We have a neighbor that smokes so much of the stuff, that I get a secondhand high.

Am I the only one who doesn't smoke the stuff?

Elton John has some strong views about the issue as well.

The rocker, whose battles with addiction are well-documented, was named Time Magazine's Icon of the Year. 

In an interview with the magazine, Elton said he doesn't believe people take marijuana's connection to addiction seriously enough.

He told Time,

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...

Elton based his opinion on his own experiences with addiction.

Sobriety hasn't been easy for Elton.

He has said his drug of choice was cocaine, and even though he's been sober for over 30 years, he said he still has dreams about the drug.

New Jersey legalized Marijuana in 2021 and made it legal for people over 21 years old to buy and use it.

There are strict rules in place.

🔺 You must be 20 or older

🔺 You may process up to 6 ounces

🔺 Must be purchased from a licensed dispensary

Elton had a profound moment of self awareness that gave him the final nudge he needed to address his addiction.  He told Time,

“It all came to a climax, really, at the Ryan White funeral in Indianapolis — a really sad and emotional week — and I came back to the hotel thinking I’m just so out of line,” John told Time. “It was a shock to see how far down the scale of humanity I’d fallen.”

Through the years, Elton has used his experience to help council other artists who were dealing with addition.

Read the full interview Time interview here.