Quincy Jones on musicians and drugs: "It goes with the turf"

Music producer Quincy Jones

/ CBS

(CBS) There is no way to keep drug use out of the music world, music producer Quincy Jones says, suggesting that Tony Bennett may be right in his calls to legalize drugs.

Special Section: The Grammy Awards
Special Section: Whitney Houston - Death of a Pop Diva

Bennett, who kicked his own cocaine habit 30 years ago, made a pitch on the Grammys red carpet for the legalization of all drugs as he reflected on the death of Whitney Houston, whose drug problems have been well documented.

Asked by CBS News whether drug use could be rooted out of the industry, Jones flatly said, "No." Then he added, "As Tony said the other night - legalize it."

The 78-year-old musician (a trumpeter, songwriter and conductor), who worked with music legends like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra during his long career, added, "It goes with the turf, you know, it really does."

He pointed out that musicians work mostly on the road, and "hang out at night" together.

" I don't know, man, you can't stop it. Now, they got oxycontin and all that stuff.. That's reasonably new. It started on the East Coast."

Bennett was accompanied to the Grammys Sunday by Mitch and Janis Winehouse, whose daughter, Amy Winehouse, had a career pockmarked by drug and alcohol abuse. Winehouse did a duet with Bennett just before her death last summer at age 27.

"In Amsterdam they legalized drugs and it calmed everybody down," Bennett said Sunday. "It stopped a lot of gangsters who sneak around and get people to take drugs. Everybody gets wounded that way. By legalizing it, you won't have that problem."

The 85-year-old crooner acknowledged his call for legalization is controversial. But he said he stands by it.

"It's called the elimination of ignorance," Bennett said. "If you do something that makes things better, why not do it immediately, whatever it is."

Listen to Jones' full comments here and tell us what you think.

[rich2777]

Legalize it. Unless somebody knows something the rest of don't know, it's not going to get any better like it is, is it?

[longtree-2009]

didn't she die from the use of prescription drugs, suspected at this point anyway, which are legal to begin with? how can legal drugs be made anymore legal? perhaps the thought is to have prescription drugs available over the counter without a doctor's prescription? using drugs, any of them, is a personal choice and unless your brain is organically impaired you have the responsibility of making good choices for yourself. life is about choices, make good ones for yourself.

[train99]

This argument is way out of control.
The drugs that Houston, and almost all others going right back to Janis Joplin, died from are legal substances - they don't get themselves killed by the illegal, natural "in the ground" drugs.
Also,when people die from drugs, it's usually because their depression is unbearable and they have to take too much to control that depression. They are NOT "having fun" - That's why these stories don't end with the stimulation of recreational drugs - THEY JUST WANT THE PAIN TO STOP. That's a psychological issue that needs friends or one's own self impetus to get help. Otherwise, they'll go the easily available prescription drug - alcohol route.

[kbbpll]

Drugs are not legal in the Netherlands / Amsterdam. Stop perpetuating this stupid myth. Look it up and educate yourself, Tony.

[Avignon-Mimi]

Just like winning the lottery, once you make your first million, people come into your life that you would never associate with otherwise. Jones, like all the rest, makes money off of artists by giving them what they don't need. Once you are on his drugs, you will sign anything.

You know how to become a millionaire in show business? Start with two million.

It's a simple job, just entertain, and put the money in a savings account. Send your family and friends to college. Don't do drugs. Even if Jones says it is normal, and you will enjoy the high.

[guest173]

I've lived in wealthy asian countries that don't have drug problems like other countries, they have a death penalty for large drug crimes, and that's what deters them a LOT, and we wonder why they have so many engineers and are taking the jobs, you need brain cells to do calculus which is basic engineering math. South America and Afghanistan are the largest drug dealers in the world, cocaine and heroine, it sounds nice to say make drugs legal but you're just going to lower everyone's lifespan with that stupidity.

[guest173]

eat more fruits and vegetables instead of smoking plants

[Stevie851]

Here's a thought...legalizing drugs will destroy the prison-industrial complex. The impact will be huge layoffs of prison staff, police, attorneys, clerks, judges and spread further to the private sector companies that provide food, energy, etc. So, are we all willing to take the hit for that? Personally, I am - but I'm old and will not outlive the problem. I think a wise solution would be to create a mandatory rehab system with reasonable checkpoints. Also, if we stop incarcerating the users and go for the sellers, we'll have a better impact on the economy.

[ppaulville]

Regardless of your stance on illegal drugs or the war thereupon, Michael Jackson died of a drug legally obtained and stupidly administered by a licensed physician, Whitney Houston died of alcohol and prescription drugs, and Amy Winehouse died of acute alcohol poisoning. For these people to become poster children for drug legalization, when the drugs that killed them weren't illegal, is just using them to promote an agenda, nothing more.

[thejudge1382]

people are turning to synthetic,chemical drugs because they are legal and safer to by at the drug store..as oposed to the Natural ones(mariguana and cocaine mostly)where you have to deal with dangerous criminals sometimes...and the kids can get them from their parents medicine cabinets etc. I happen to be near the Mexican border!and that violence and blood is now spilling heavily and deeply into Texas.How many lives and Tax dollars have been wasted on,not only a loosing battle, but a problem that is only getting worse and more costly!Lets face it the only thing todays laws do is make drugs expensive and VERY profitable...those laws do nothing to stop the flow!..they just get people killed, and criminals rich!..wake up people!

[RobAla]

From what the press is stating, she died of legal prescribed drugs. If that is the case, legalizing illegal drugs is beside the point.