In a bold statement, Danny Dyer has claimed cocaine should be made legal because, in his opinion, banning it hasn’t worked.
Danny, 41, controversially reasoned that cigarettes and alcohol kill more people than the highly addictive class A drug – and suggested ecstasy users are less violent than drunks.
Writing in his book, Life Lessons from the East End - first published in 2015, he said: “Cocaine, it seems to me, is easier to get than a part for your boiler in this country.
“When they’re detecting cocaine in tap water because of the number of people taking it, I’d say it was time for a different approach. Don’t get me wrong, I think cocaine is dangerous. It killed 200-odd people in the UK last year.
“You can’t dismiss that. It’s a powerful, addictive drug which has the potential to f**k you up.”
But Danny, who plays EastEnders favourite Mick Carter, insisted it’s time to change our approach to illegal drugs.
CHECK OUT next week's EastEnders spoilers: The police question Mel Owen about Ray Kelly
EastEnders spoilers week 7 2019 - slider & stacked
1 of 33Hunter Owen tries to make things right
The week begins with Hunter attempting to make things right with Louise Mitchell.
2 of 33eastenders spoilers mel owen hunter owen jack branning car chase police
At home he finds Ray Kelly's hidden money and decides to spend it on Louise.He apologises to her and decides to take her shopping.
3 of 33The police search for Mel Owen
Mel is left alarmed when Billy reveals the police have been looking for her. She rushes off to find Hunter.
4 of 33eastenders spoilers mel owen hunter owen jack branning car chase police
When she finds her son with Louise, she insists he return home but he decides to wind her up by inviting Phil's daughter over for dinner.
5 of 33eastenders spoilers mel owen hunter owen jack branning car chase police
At the dinner table, Mel and Hunter's worst fears are met when they hear on the radio that a body has been found in the woods.After Louise goes home, Mel gives Hunter a stern reality check and makes him see how much trouble they are in.
6 of 33Mel Owen is taken in for questioning by the police
The next day, Jack sees Mel being taken in for questioning by the police and when he asks Hunter about what's happening, the teenager warns him to back off.Down at the police station, Mel is left feeling uncomfortable during interrogation.
7 of 33Mel Owen lies to the police
Desperate, she lies and tells the police she was with ex-boyfriend Jack on her wedding night.
8 of 33eastenders spoilers mel owen hunter owen jack branning car chase police
At the Square, Jack is caught off guard when the police question him about Mel.When Mel is eventually realised by the police, Jack demands the truth.
9 of 33Mel Owen comes clean to Jack Branning
Mel confesses all and tells him what really happened on the night of her wedding.A stunned Jack advises Mel to come clean to the truth but instead she begs him to help her and Hunter flee the Square.
10 of 33eastenders spoilers mel owen hunter owen jack branning car chase police
A reluctant Jack agrees and when Mel and Hunter prepare to leave Walford, the teenager is less than impressed that Jack is helping out.
11 of 33The police chase Mel and Hunter Owen
Jack drives them away from Walford but they're alarmed when it dawns on them that the police are following them. Will they get away in time?
12 of 33Masood Ahmed asks Kathy Beale to go to Australia
Elsewhere on the Square, Masood invites Kathy to go to Tamwar and Nancy's wedding in Australia. She's soon left stunned when he suggests they move down under for good.
13 of 33Jean Slater is left worried by the doctors
Meanwhile the Slaters prepare for Hayley's return to Walford. Jean Slater is worried when the doctors reveal she needs further tests.
14 of 33eastenders spoilers jean slater
She decides to continue to hide the news from her daughter Stacey.
15 of 33eastenders spoilers jean slater
Ian Beale tries to apologise to Jean for his recent behaviour but she puts him in his place.
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When Shirley Carter notices there's something wrong with Jean, she decides to cheer her up by tricking her into gate-crashing a hen party at E20.
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Jean is left upset when she arrives at the club with baby Cherry and realises Shirley lied to her.Jean struggles to enjoy the party and when things get too much for her she snaps at Shirley and storms out.
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Outside E20, Jean breaks down and Shirley realises her friend has been hiding something – will she come clean about her recent health scare?
19 of 33The Slater family celebrate Valentine's Day
As the Slater family prepare for a Valentine's Day night out at E20, Martin invites Stacey out for a romantic night.Unfortunately there night together is interrupted by Mo and Kat so Martin asks Kush to an albi so he and Stacey can leave.
20 of 33Patrick Trueman and Denise Fox makes a shocking discovery
Karen Taylor accidentally drops Mitch Baker in it when she reveals to Patrick and Denise that he ex-boyfriend stole the money from Ted. An annoyed Denise forces Mitch to help her with tasks around the house, to make up for his thievery.
21 of 33eastenders spoilers baily mitch baker keegan baker
When Bailey is sent home from school, Mitch tries to cheer her up by suggesting they play a game of football with Keegan Taylor and Mick Carter.
22 of 33eastenders spoilers baily mitch baker keegan baker
Things take a turn for the worse when Mitch gets carried away with the game and Bailey ends up hurting her shoulder.
23 of 33eastenders spoilers baily mitch baker keegan baker
When Mick tries to give his friend advice about Bailey, Mitch tells him to stay out of it. He then asks Keegan for some advice.
24 of 33eastenders spoilers baily mitch baker keegan baker
Mitch invites Keegan out for a day with Bailey and later when the dad-of-two bumps into Denise he begs her not to reveal anything about the stolen money in front of Bailey.
25 of 33Tiffany Butcher brags to the rest of the gang
Over to troublesome Evie and she's frustrated when she finds her gang hanging around and is quick to tell Tiffany to take on more jobs.
26 of 33eastenders spoilers tiffany butcher
Pleased by her recent income, Tiff brags to the rest of the gang members but soon feels out of depth when Evie slates Vix for not earning enough and tells her never to return.Rude.
27 of 33Tiffany Butcher spots Evie Steele with someone
Tiffany feels bad for what happened to Vix and soon spots Evie with a bloke – who is he?
28 of 33eastenders spoilers tiffany butcher
She then begins to worry about Evie and the pressure of bringing in money. Even Dennis Rickman Jnr asks about Evie, Tiff shoots him down.Keen to impress the gang, Dennis gives Tiff the money he got from Bailey…
29 of 33Jack Branning interrupts Max and Rainie Branning
Max and Rainie Branning's romantic night is interrupted when Jack asks them to babysit.
30 of 33eastenders spoilers doctor legg and dot branning
Sonia Fowler breaks the devastating news to Dot Branning that Dr Legg doesn't want to return home for his final weeks.A heartbroken Dot visits him in hospital but during her time there she sees that he's made up his mind – he wants to stay there.
31 of 33eastenders spoilers doctor legg and dot branning
Dot asks Stuart Highway for his help to persuade Dr Legg to spend his final weeks at home.
32 of 33Doctor Legg returns to the Square
The pair succeed and when Sonia prepares to bring Doctor Legg home she's left touched when he shows her a treasured possession - a medallion his father gave him and his wife Judith. On the Square, Dot prepares for Dr Legg's arrival. Upon his return, everyone realises just how frail he is.
33 of 33The residents say their goodbyes to Dr Legg
Bex Fowler is upset knowing Dr Legg could die at any moment and she opens up to her mum, who offers her support. Meanwhile, Dot has a touching gift for Doctor Legg. At the end of the week Doctor Legg shares some poignant memories with his BFF Dot shortly before he passes away.
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He continued: “I tell you think though, compared to booze and fags it hasn’t killed many people.
“Banning drugs hasn’t worked. Ain’t it about time to try something different?”
Danny has discussed his own drug use in the past, admitting he ‘took to crack like a duck to water’, and in 2015 Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan hit out at him.
After Danny called him a ‘kept man’, and claimed his wife Ola pays the bills, James replied: “Unlike you she didn’t stick all her money up her nose.”
But past experiences haven’t given Danny a totally negative perception of drug users.
Speaking in his book, the EastEnders star added: “Personally, if I’m coming home of an evening, I’d rather encounter a group of blokes who had been taking E than the same bunch who had been on the piss.
“From the drinkers you risk getting your head kicked in. The worst you’ll get from the trippers is a bit of a sweaty hug.”
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This story originally appeared on Closer on 9 November 2015.