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Dopey George has a joint on TV
Last updated at 10:30am on 20.10.06
Light up: George Michael smokes cannabis during the TV interview
Wham!: The pop star takes a drag on his joint
Taking the Michael: he was pictured while filming the South Bank Show
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Astonishing photographs today showed George Michael openly smoking a cannabis joint during a television interview.
The 43-year-old star, who has twice been cautioned for possessing the drug after being found slumped in his car, lit up backstage in Madrid and defended his use of it.
Michael said of his fondness for cannabis, which is still illegal in Britain: "This is the only drug I've ever thought worth taking ...
"This stuff keeps me sane and happy. I could write without it ... if I were sane and happy. I'd say it's a great drug - but obviously it's not very healthy. You can't afford to smoke it if you've got anything to do."
Michael's comments, reproduced in today's Daily Mirror, are bound to upset many parents and anti-cannabis campaigners.
They come as fears grow over the use of superstrong cannabis such as skunk by increasing numbers of young people.
Skunk has been linked by police to a rise in street violence and burglaries in parts of London.
But during the in-depth TV interview, to be screened on the South Bank Show on 31 October, Michael said cannabis was "very good for creative people".
However, he added a note of caution, stating: "It can be a terrible, terrible drug."
"You've got to be in the right position to take it. You've got to have achieved most of your ambitions because it chills you out to such a degree that you could lose your ambitions."
Michael, who last month was cautioned for possession of the drug after he was found slumped at the wheel of his car near his north London home, said he had dabbled with other drugs, but regretted using all of them except cannabis.
He said: " There's not another drug in my life that I'm glad I took, but grass.
"I think my life might be somewhere else if I'd chosen another avenue. Alcohol for instance . Christ if I drank as much as I smoked. My God, I'd be like Keith Richards."
The interview was filmed over the past two months as Michael prepared for his first world tour in 15 years.
At the start of the programmea message is flashed on screen, reading: "George Michael wishes to inform viewers that the has never tested positive for drink or drugs whilst driving."
As well as referring to the most recent incident this is also a reference to an incident in February, when he was cautioned when found asleep at the wheel of his car near Hyde Park.
Two months later he hit three parked cars and in July he was caught having sex on Hampstead Heath.
Of this Michael tells interviewer Melvyn Bragg: "The public think I'm a man on the brink of a breakdown because I fell asleep in my car, I hit a parked car and because I cruise as a gay man." But he insisted that far from losing control of his life he "feels good". "I'm happy with the music I'm making and I ' m still loaded," he added.
Reader views (21)
It is difficult for anyone to tell if George is happy but George. Some of his recent extra-curricular activities have been rather bizarre and unbecoming, or is it the done thing in gay circles. But it's a free world for anyone to do as they please if they are not breaking the law. Sorry Will, TN, US, George Michael is much more talented than Keith Richards. No Mick Jagger, and there wouldn't have been a Keith Richard.
- Tarek, London, England
keep on toking george!
In 10 years we'll all be doing it, whats all the fuss about?
- Jeoff Adams, Oxford
In all honesty, I think it would be best for everyone involved (especially George Michael) if he immediately permanently cancelled his world tour. The guy has clearly lost it.
- Eric H. West, New York, NY
It's about damn time people started speaking up about the positive aspects of marijuana. Alcohol is much more socially damaging and a LOT more physically damaging.
- Trent, UK
All I see is a drug addict trying to justify his drug of choice. He’s a slime ball.
- Deborah, St. Augustine USA
It's terrible that he's doing drugs! Who told him he could do with his body what he wanted? Suddenly, all the recordings he made sound off key. A very sad time for the UK, and a sad time for Western Civilization.
- Sandra, Quebec City, Canada
It is sad to me. He is no longer the man who sang "Kissing a Fool"; one of my all time favorite songs. He is a completely different person. I do hope the best for him.
- Slap1328, Sacramento, United States of America
Just another has-been celeb vying for media attention. Sad.
- Kent, Newport Beach USA
Ha! at least he has the guts to say what he thinks!!
I mean, I don't doubt that this is a PR stunt, put together to get him some column inches.
I would like a bit more accuracy tho. he doesnt acctually say specifically what he smokes, if its skunk, green weed, block hash or pollen. they all affect u very diofferently. for his sake i hope he's not smoking skunk everday, as that would probabaly give him drug pyschosis in a couple of years
your right Bob, he doesnt look happy. I am thou!
- Honey Weasel, London
George should be allowed to smoke joints if he wants to. Cannabis should be sold in the shops, the government's stupid laws against it should be changed.
- David, Aberdeen,
Good grief,so the man smokes dope? Why on earth in 2006 do we care? There are vastly more dangerous drugs licensed as pharmaceuticals and widely abused without anything substantial being done about it. Millions of people's lives are wrecked each year by alcohol - and it's a multi billion pound industry - and the leaders of that industry are feted. We have a thousand years of human use of cannabis to look back at and the cannabis rarely does anything worse than make people deadly dull and ineffective. The most dangerous thing about cannabis is that young people try it, wonder what all the fuss is about and then assume adults are talking rubbish about other illegal drugs like meth and cocaine. It's about time that we offer a more sophisticated message because legality and toxicity are two different things. Quite frankly half the Tory front bench have confessed to smoking it and the country hasn't left the rails. Time we all became a little more adult about the whole subject. Though as Frank Zappa said; campaigning for the legalisation of cannabis is the second most boring thing I can think of doing next to watching TV.
- Jonathan, Wadhurst, Sussex
He says he is happy. He does not look happy. He looks sad.
- Bob, USA
How in the world can this chap compare himself as leaning down to Keith Richards and see what he might have been if he was involved with alcohol? If he were half the talent of Keith Richards he might get some notoriety due to some sort of new accomplishment musically rather than his drug use and sexual status. GM has got to be one of the most arrogant has-beens to date.
- Will, TN, US
Come on George. We all loose our way at some point. Loosing a parent I know from experience is a big kick to take. But there was once a time when you made us just a little proud of you and your achievements. Im betting the fact that you are 'still loaded' won't compensate for the loss of our faith.
- Paul Clutterbuck, sutton surrey
I smoke joints all the time and it helps me with my professional photography, I think it should be legalised, then it can be regulated. You are my idol George!
- Olly , Leicester
Great Michael, you have showed your courage and talent without fear again!
- Tom, Barnet UK
The things this guy will do for publicity, there was a time when his music did all the talking. I've no problem with him smoking joints or whatever, but falling asleep at the wheel 3 times is dangerous to others - surely even he isn't so stupid as to see that?
- James, London
One totally screwed up individual, not a good example to any person young or old.
- Edd, London
So what? I can't see how anyone can complain about this whilst the goverment are still profiteering from tobacco sales. Why don't these anti-cannabis campaigners get on with your own lives and stop poking their noses into everyone elses?
- John, UK
He is happy, very talented, an icon, loaded and enjoys a joint, so what, see you at Earls court.
- Dave, Tufnell Park
Big deal: roll on those London gigs, George!
- Louise, London
