Brand wants drugs to be legalised

Interview by Chris Smith, words by Amy Gladwell Newsbeat reporters

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Russell Brand: ''I took drugs every single day''

Russell Brand says he thinks drug laws should be changed and that illegal drugs should be made "freely available" through chemists.

The comedian, presenter and actor says he thinks it would work better than the current system as it would be "controlled" and drug addicts could be registered.

The 37-year-old claims drug-related theft would fall and it would keep more people out of prison and get them into recovery.

The star has been speaking to Newsbeat ahead of a BBC television documentary airing later this week in which he shares his own battle to stay clean.

He says he wants to challenge how our society deals with addiction.

"I think it's an issue like no other that's being treated in a weird way," he said.

"The people controlling it don't understand it at all."

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Brand wants drugs to be legalised