Joss Stone has come under fire from anti-drugs campaigners after she condoned cannabis use in a new interview. The 22-year-old singer admits she often smokes marijuana and she can’t understand why the drug is illegal. She tells Britain’s Star magazine,
“I smoke weed, but I don’t think it’s really a drug. It’s more of a herb. I don’t regret saying that at all. I think everyone smokes weed and people who say they don’t are lying! Weed has been given this evil stamp, but how is it dangerous? It’s going to make you laugh your a**e off? You might go to sleep? I think alcohol is much more harmful.”
When asked if she smokes cannabis every day, she replied,
“It depends if I’m working, and on what song. And whether it’s a smoking studio or not! It’s like having a drink.”
Stone also played down the dangers of harder drugs, adding:
“I hardly ever go to clubs. When I do, I’ll drink three or four beers then move on to a vodka. I don’t want to take all those horrible drugs. Although some sound fun, so I might dabble now and then!”
But her comments have infuriated anti-drugs campaigners in the U.K., who have accused Stone of trivializing a serious issue.
David Raynes, head of the National Drugs Prevention Alliance, says,
“She should consider the effects that her comments have on other people, especially young fans who look up to her. People like Joss Stone should keep their mouths shut about things like this. It is terribly damaging and she clearly hasn’t considered the wider effects of the drug, although she clearly didn’t get to become a pop star because she is a student of social sciences. We already have a drug culture in the U.K. and she is simply adding to that.”
What do you think about celebrities admitting to drug use? Does David have a point? Or does Joss NOT have to answer to anyone?
I think she has a valid point and she has a right to say what she wants. The effects of alcohol are far worse than marijuana. The only thing I don’t agree with her claim that “everybody does it.” Which obviously is false. But I think that if everybody in the world tried it, they would realize it’s not this giant deal. When people freak out about weed, they just are encouraging teenagers to try it (people love the feeling of rebellion and freedom). Also, when you’re claiming that marijuana will kill you or that it will fry your brain, kids can read into your bullshit. Why not just be honest and say, “if you can’t handle yourself, this could cause you to be lazy and do poorly in school. Academic failure has enormous repercussions that will effect you for the rest of your life.”
While she is an adult and can say what she pleases, it might have been safer for her to use a slight filter when commenting on this topic. It doesn’t personally bother me but I could see where some people could find it offensive.
Blah Blah Blah… Why is it necessary to announce such a thing? Attention whore! And not EVERYONE smokes weed. What a dumbass. I do occassionally, but I know for a fact that most people probably do not smoke it.
Just an attempt to promote her album by drawing attention to herself.
yes but not everyone has parents! and not all parents are good role models.
If shes cool with telling the world isn’t that her perogative? but she does sound like a totaly hypercrite saying “I don’t want to take all those horrible drugs. Although some sound fun, so I might dabble now and then!”
Personally I think they should just keep it to themselves.
agree with you
So all those people with a predisposition to psychotic illness would be fine?
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Hmmm, I guess I’m a liar then becuase I don’t smoke weed…
Goodness, I hate it when people say “Everyone does it” becuase unless it’s “everyone poops” then don’t say it…
Stupid, stupid thing to say. What a tool.
Yea i don’t do it either, and admitting is one thing but she speaks a bit too highly of the drug. Maybe it’s not worse than alcohol, but what i hate about weed is some ppl use it more like cigarettes, even though being high is much more than just laughing and having fun, it can mess ppls heads more than being wasted from alcohol (not always though). And it sounds like she uses it a lot.. Escapist.
What a moron. Everybody does it…..right. Just like everybody knows who you are.
I can’t stand her as it is and her moronic comments only cement that fact.
ITA!
PARENTS… It’s YOUR job to be role models to your children. When you allow singers/actors/sports figures to be your child’s heroes, you abdicate your responsibility as parents! I love Joss, but it’s my job as a mom to tell my daughters “yes, she’s talented, but we don’t do everything Joss does because she doesn’t make good choices”.
while i agree with some of the points she was TRYING to make, she comes across as a huge idiot.
I’d rather hear a celebrity be honest about their drug use then be screaming drugs are bad (mmkay?) while secretly doing them.
Her remarks don’t bother me. From her quotes, it sounds like she’s level headed about it and, really, it’s her business what she does behind closed doors. It’s not like she said, “Drugs are great! I hang outside of my local high school and yell out my car window, ‘Hey, wanna come to my pad and get hiiiiiiiigh?’”
Spoken like a true addict.