Legalize Cannabis, Says Take That Star

I knew the boys at Take That weren't exactly the best role models in the world (just look at what Robbie Williams turned out to be - but that's a completely different story). And in case you needed more proof, one of the band's members, Howard Donald has just publicly demanded that "cannabis be legalized". The 39-year-old singer thus managed to spark some serious outrage by insisting the drug is less harmful than alcohol and by sharing with the world his bizarre beliefs according to which if everyone got "stoned" the world would be a better place.

Personally, I tend to think that someone should have checked Howard - who is recovering after his lung collapsed while on tour in Milan in October - was not a little intoxicated himself when he made this statement. "Cannabis" he said "should be legalized. If more people went out stoned than drunk I think there would be less fighting, less trouble, and less violence". Yes, and pigs can fly. As it was expected, anti-drugs campaigners were quick to slam the pop star's claims, which they deemed "irresponsible", because cannabis use, they say, can bring about serious mental illness.

Gail McCann, of Mothers Against Drugs, said: "Anyone who can tell you cannabis is safe is talking rubbish. It can cause psychosis and paranoia. I'd like Take That to see the work we do and ask if they'd like to donate some of the millions they earn to drug treatment". Good point.

It is not the first time Howard has spoken openly about drugs. "As a band we dabbled with ecstasy and liked the odd spliff, but who doesn't?" he previously admitted. Howard's band mate Gary Barlow has also come forward and admitted to using cannabis regularly. Yes, no wonder the boys want it legal. "In 2000 when I was dropped as a solo artist I was smoking 15 spliffs a day. At the end of the night, I would smoke only half my last joint so when I woke up I could have the other half before reality set in" Gary stated last year.

The band - which is also made up of Mark Owen and Jason Orange, and Robbie Williams before he left in 1995 - sold 25 million records worldwide in the early 1990s before splitting in 1996. Last year, they reunited for a hugely successful world tour and hit comeback album "Beautiful World". Now that I think about it, I find the title of that album ironic - and I suspect they might have written it while on cannabis. It would certainly account for the optimistic vision, wouldn't it?