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The George Michael cannabis confession,
is the one you are most clicking on. |
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Coming up in sky news at 10.
George’s cannabis confession, |
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find out why anti-drugs campaigners
have called him "stupid". |
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George Michaels claims that
cannabis keeps him sane and happy, |
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have been criticized
by anti-drugs campaigners as |
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stupid and naïve.
The singer made |
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the comments in an interview
for a TV documentary |
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during which he appears
to be smoking the drug. |
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He has been cautioned twice
for possession of cannabis |
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after being found slumped in his car
on both occasions. |
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Sky's Sarah Hughes reports.
-This stuff keeps me sane and happy. |
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I could write without it...
If I were sane and happy. |
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you know...
But actually the thing |
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I would actually say about it is
I think it is very good for |
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creative people
but is a terrible, terrible drug in terms of... |
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in terms of you know,
you’ve got to be in |
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the right position in life to take it,
you’ve got to at least achieve |
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most of your ambitions.
- So George Michaels says |
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smoking dope keeps him going.
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The claim was made in a backstage interview
during his European tour, |
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but it's a questionable one.
This year the singer has twice been found |
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slumped at the wheel of his car
and cautioned for possessing cannabis. |
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He’s denied his life is out of control.
The mental health campaigners say |
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it’s a dangerous example to set.
- The message he is giving out |
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by smoking in front of other people
is that it does keep people sane and happy |
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whereas a lot of people,
it can actually make insane and |
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some families dreadfully unhappy
and I think you have to be responsible |
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for saying things like that
when you know that lot of other people |
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are going to follow in your tracks.
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It's illegal to grow, possess
or supply cannabis to another person. |
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It was downgraded
from a class "B" to class "C" drug |
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two years ago.
But fears about it's mental health effects |
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have led some campaigners
to call for it to be reclassified. |
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Others say it should be legalized
and George Michael shouldn’t be blamed for |
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being candid about his cannabis use.
- He is offering an honest approach and |
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he talks about the situations
when he does use it, |
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the pros and the cons
and a lot of cannabis users |
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in this country will identify that.
Many people use it for other reasons, |
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medical reasons.
Some find it helps with relaxation, |
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some find it helps in sleep
better at night. |
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George Michael's no stranger
to controversy and he has admitted |
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perhaps he should learn
to shut his mouth and sing. |
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His latest comments have come in
for criticism. |
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But if you support the theory
that all publicity is good publicity, |
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they may not do him any harm.
Especially as he has got |
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a new album due out next month.
Sarah Hughes, sky news. |