26 May 2013 - In his lyrics rapper Trinidad James frequently refers to illegal substances and in a recent interview with hip hop magazine XXL, the 25 year old rapper was asked about his role in promoting drug use. He stated that "doing drugs is not right" but didn't take responsibility for what other people do.
"Honestly man, life is based on moderation. Anything that you do, you have to do it in moderation," he explained. "People overdo it and it turns into people OD’ing or dying, but it’s all about how extreme you go with it. Some artists have made some of their most incredible music on drugs, so for me to say that drugs are messing up hip-hop, I’m not going to say that. It’s just that some people really believe so much of what we say, and people honestly don’t understand moderation."
When asked about his personal relationship with drugs Trinidad revealed his relationship with marijuana: "I smoke weed, I get high, and I love it" and "Yeah, I mean, I could stop smoking weed right now if I had to, but there’s no reason for me to stop. I do it because it’s good for me." The All Gold Everything rapper said that rappers aren't responsible for other people's personal choices. "But at the end of the day, it’s all about moderation and you being your goddamn self".
October 23, 2012 - Puerto Rican actor and film producer Benicio del Toro is firmly of the view that the U.S Government needs to end their persecution of marijuana in order to bring illegal drug trade under control. The Fear And Loathing star, who recently also played a cartel boss in drug-war action-flick, Savages, believes marijuana should be controlled at a similar level to that of alcohol, with taxes and restrictions in place to curtail use and boost revenue.
"I think that marijuana grows in the ground and helps many people in need." He told the Sydney Daily Telegraph last week. "Why should it be treated like it's a hell drug when it's not as bad as alcohol? If you drink a lot of alcohol and smoke a lot of marijuana, you are going to have to same problems. Why not control it and have the government tax it and use that money for good things?"
21 February 2012 - R&B singer Robin Thicke, son of Growing Pains actor Alan Thicke, was arrested in Manhattan for marijuana possession. A source quoted by newspaper Daily News says the American-Canadian crooner was caught by patrol officers who saw him smoking a joint while sitting in a Cadillac Escalade near 3rd Ave. "He wasn’t driving. He was sitting in the car”, the source says. “He was arrested and a small amount of marijuana was recovered on him.” The Daily News reports that "Thicke was being processed Friday afternoon and is expected to received a desk appearance ticket."
21 Sep 2011 - Following her arrest last month for cannabis possession, DJ and model Ayumi Takahashi has been arrested again - this time for stimulant use.
Takahashi, 26, residing in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward, was cited today by officers of the the Tanishi station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for violating the stimulants control law. "I received it from my boyfriend’s older brother," she is quoted as telling police.
Investigators said that the supplier is a 32-year-old member of the Kyotokai crime syndicate and currently under arrest for a separate incident.
30 Aug 2011 - Early in the morning of August 29, Tokyo Metropolitan Police officers from the Tanishi station searched the apartment of the popular model Ayumi Takahashi, located in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward, and found the celebrity in possession of 0.9 grams of dried cannabis.
"I’ve been using since one year ago," the 26-year-old told police.
Officers were led to Takahashi following the arrest of her 32-year-old male companion, a gang member who had been taken into custody over a separate incident.
