Charity right to dump me over cannabis – Cox

Actor admits his stance on drugs meant he was not right for city role

Dundee-born actor Brian Cox has said a charity were right to drop him as their patron after he admitted smoking cannabis.

The 73-year-old star said in an interview in January that he began smoking the drug 23 years ago to help him relax.

His confession followed his best actor win for his role in the TV show Succession at the Golden Globes.

But The Courier told how his comments sparked anger at Dundeebased community group Mid-Lin Day Care Centre, which provides support for vulnerable adults and elderly people.

Cox, who has called for drugs to be legalised, agreed to sign on as a patron of the charity four years ago after being approached by them.

However, they cut ties with him following the interview – citing Dundee’s chronic drug problems.

Cox has now said that was the right decision because his stance on drugs meant he was not right for the role.

He said: “I have lost my position that I was part of with Mid-Lin.

“I think they were right to let me go because although I was being a bit silly in that interview, I do smoke.

“In my hometown we have fifth generation heroin addicts and that’s just not good.

“They are not really getting to the root of it which is poverty, mental health and unemployment.

“I’m still concerned about care for addicts but marijuana or cannabis has tremendous healing qualities.

“It deals with a medical condition I have which is boredom.

“I think we have to decriminalise drugs.”

Cox was speaking on a podcast where he was interviewed by former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and his daughter Grace.

The actor, who lives in New York, caused controversy after he revealed that he was a regular cannabis smoker and used it to avoid being considered square and uninteresting.

Cox said he didn’t try the drug until he was 50 as a result of feeling he had missed out as a youth because of his devotion to acting.

He said: “I missed out on what was going on with young people because I was working so hard.

“So I discovered cannabis. I recommend it to everyone – get stoned.”

Following his comments Joyce McIntosh, chairwoman of the Mid-Lin Day Care Centre, said: “Dundee is drugridden, we just can’t support Brian’s views on cannabis.

“I couldn’t believe it – he has a CBE and all these awards and next thing he’s telling people to get stoned.”

Brian Cox has admitted he a regular cannabis user.