Earlier in December, pop icon Elton John told TIME magazine that legalizing marijuana would be “one of the greatest mistakes of all time,” characterizing the substance as a gateway to other drugs. These comments have sparked controversy and criticism among music fans and advocates of hemp and marijuana products.
Elton John’s Icon of the Year Interview
TIME magazine has named Elton John the Icon of the Year. As part of his feature in an upcoming edition of the magazine, the music star granted TIME an exclusive interview that covered various aspects of Elton’s journey, from his wilder days to his current home life. His former drug use was one topic that he turned to.
As Elton reflected on his former drug habits, he described how difficult it was for him to acknowledge his addictions and admit that it was affecting his musical performances. “You make terrible decisions on drugs,” he stated.
He added how it affected his personal life: “It really upsets me, thinking back on how many people I probably hurt.”
Although the interview makes repeated references to the musician’s former cocaine habit, criticism around substance use became directed toward marijuana. Elton expressed his doubts on the positive outcome of broad marijuana legalization.
“I maintain that it’s addictive,” he asserted and referenced the common “gateway drug” hypothesis. “It leads to other drugs.”
Elton took his anti-legalization stance even further, stating, “Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”
Pushback on Anti-legalization Statements
Elton John’s hard stance against marijuana legalization in the TIME interview has prompted pushback and criticism from music fans and marijuana advocates alike. Some of these comments were published in an article by The Hollywood Reporter.
The 360’s singer Audrey Clark called it a “big mistake” and added that “he needs to smoke a blunt.”
Edward Grimes, a New Jersey activist, argued that Elton John was speaking from a position of privilege, stating, “Those pesky laws don’t affect you when you’re a billionaire with pasty white privilege.”
One commenter, Keith Saunders, was a member of NORML, an organization dedicated to reforming marijuana laws. Saunders made light of the controversy while taking a jab at the pop icon, remarking, “So THAT’s why he never did a reggae song.”
The author of The Hollywood Reporter article also added criticisms of Elton John’s stance. Steve Bloom, a guest columnist for the magazine, asked, “Would John prefer people continue to go to jail for pot?” He followed this with the assertions, “He never was caught, never had a mug shot or spent time in a cell.”
Refutations of the “Gateway Drug” Hypothesis
Aside from arguments of Elton John’s anti-legalization stance deriving from a position of privilege, one of the major criticisms has been his apparent use of the “gateway drug” hypothesis.
The “gateway drug” hypothesis postulates that many drug users first start with marijuana, and its use will encourage them to seek harder drugs. While this theory has some support, many argue that the correlation between marijuana use and other substances does not prove that marijuana serves as a gateway.
According to Vox, a 2002 report by RAND’s Drug Policy Research Center supports an alternative theory to the “gateway drug” hypothesis, in which drug users only start with marijuana and alcohol because they are easier to obtain than other substances.
A study by the Institute of Medicine reached a similar conclusion in 1999, as published by the National Library of Medicine.
As the debate over nationwide marijuana legalization continues, Elton John’s characterization of it as a “gateway drug” puts this controversial theory back into the national spotlight.
