"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. Anything at all would be foolish."

But he added that it could be a "terrible, terrible drug", saying that it can "chill you out to such a degree that you could lose your ambitions".

George, who lives with long-term partner Kenny Goss, admitted dabbling in other drugs, but added: "There’s not another drug in life that I’m glad I took but grass."

And he denied that his life was out of control after twice being caught slumped at the wheel of his car, insisting: "I feel good.

"I live in the house of my dreams, with the man of my dreams. I’m happy with the music I’m making - and I’m still loaded.

"I’m enjoying my life."

Cannabis keeps George ’sane and happy’ - Oct 20 2006
Pop star George Michael spoke openly about taking cannabis while smoking the drug during a television interview, it was reported today.

The Daily Mirror said George, 43, lit up a joint backstage before a concert in Madrid while doing an interview for ITV’s The South Bank Show.

In an interview to be screened on October 31, he told Melvyn Bragg: "This is the only drug I’ve ever thought worth taking but you have to wait.

"It never occurred to me to take even this until I was about 22 or 23.

"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. Anything at all would be foolish."

But he added that it could be a "terrible, terrible drug", saying that it can "chill you out to such a degree that you could lose your ambitions".

George, who lives with long-term partner Kenny Goss, admitted dabbling in other drugs, but added: "There’s not another drug in life that I’m glad I took but grass."

And he denied that his life was out of control after twice being caught slumped at the wheel of his car, insisting: "I feel good.

"I live in the house of my dreams, with the man of my dreams. I’m happy with the music I’m making - and I’m still loaded.

"I’m enjoying my life."

George Michael talks drugs - Oct 17 2006
George Michael has given a revealing interview to mark 25 years in the spotlight.

In his only interview to mark the quarter century anniversary of his career, George discussed his work, his sexuality, the press - and marijuana.

The singer, who recently hit the headlines after being caught asleep at the wheel of his car, told The South Bank Show’s Melvyn Bragg: "If I’d drunk as much as I’d smoked - my god I’d look like Keith Richards".

Further cementing his rock’n’roll image, he commented: "Led Zeppelin are my favourite rock group of all time - they sound like they know how to have sex."

But, showing he still has a serious side, he said of his anti-war song: "As the years go by, Mr Blair is making Shoot The Dog a word perfect protest song."

The secretive star agreed to let The South Bank Show have access to rehearsals for his first live tour in 15 years.