As Oasis Announces Reunion Tour, Cannabis Views Resurface: 'Legalize It To Fund The NHS'

Via El Planteo

The music world is buzzing with excitement over the news of Oasis‘ return, the iconic British band led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. Speculation about the reunion began after a mysterious video appeared on the musicians' official social media, culminating in the official announcement of a 14-concert tour starting in July 2025.

Oasis’ story is not only marked by its legendary music and the notorious disputes between the brothers but also by the band’s long relationship with cannabis —a topic we will explore in detail in this article.

Noel Gallagher: Advocating For Cannabis Legalization In The UK

Noel Gallagher is no stranger to marijuana. In fact, he has publicly supported the legalization of cannabis in the UK, suggesting that the economic benefits could be used to fund the NHS (National Health Service). The 56-year-old musician believes the government should take control of cannabis cultivation, distribution and licensing, ensuring that all profits go toward the NHS.

In a recent interview, Noel stated: “They'd only have to do one thing – they just legalize it and say that all the profits are going to the NHS. You can't argue with it then, can you?" He also criticized the government's inaction, highlighting that if they talk so much about the NHS, they should take concrete steps to support it.

“The Government could grow it and distribute it and license it because as we're all aware, they're f***ing forever banging on about the NHS. It's like, ‘Well, do something about it,'” he asserted.

Noel’s proposal has sparked public debate, highlighting the tensions between current policies and the growing demand for cannabis reform.

A Suspended Sentence For Cannabis Cultivation

On June 16, 2021, the Oasis frontman was found growing 24 cannabis plants at his home in Northwich. He was later brought before Chester Crown Court, where he received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months due to the "strong personal mitigation" presented by his defense. The decision to suspend the sentence considered the impact that an immediate conviction could have on his family.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Gallagher was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, and the court mandated the confiscation and destruction of all the plants and equipment used for cultivation.

Liam Gallagher: Reflections on Cannabis and Pink Floyd's Music

Liam Gallagher, on the other hand, has shared how his youthful experiences with cannabis and how Pink Floyd’s music shaped his perspective. In an interview with Phil Taggart for the ChillDaBeats show, Liam recounted how, as a teenager, he smoked cannabis while listening to the psychedelic classic Comfortably Numb in complete darkness, describing the experience as terrifying but also eye-opening.

"I'm glad I actually listened to that stoned out of my head because the mind is open, it's great," Liam said, expressing his deep appreciation for the new perspectives the combination offered him.

Funny Anecdotes And A Necessary Break

Liam has also spoken about his more recent relationship with cannabis, sharing a humorous story from 2019 about how, during a vacation, a particularly intense episode led him to decide to quit smoking marijuana. After consuming an extremely potent strain, “I had to go and have a word with myself in a cupboard and all I could hear was this song by Fat White Family that sounded like ‘Nightclubbing' by Iggy Pop on a loop, for about an hour. It was top,” he said.

This experience made him reconsider his cannabis use, opting for a tolerance break. While it wasn't a pleasant moment, he now recalls it with laughter.

Liam also reminisced about a time with Oasis when he and his bandmates, after smoking marijuana, ordered nearly 150 oysters while in Philadelphia. "Me, Whitey (Alan White) and Guigs (Paul McGuigan) got really stoned and kept ordering trays of them," he said. "It was really good weed. All night we were talking about going to the beach in the morning. I think that's why we kept ordering oysters."

To add to the hilarity, Gallagher wanted to give his bandmates a visual preview of what they would be enjoying: “I went over to the window, pulled back the curtain to show them the sea … it was an air conditioning unit in a brick wall.”

Different Experiences, Shared Opinions

The Gallagher brothers' experiences with cannabis, while vastly different, provide a clear example of the growing conversation around the use and legalization of this substance in the UK. While Noel advocates for a government-led approach to support the NHS, Liam reflects on his personal experiences and the lessons learned. The complexity of their stories offers a multifaceted view of a topic that continues to spark debate in British society.

Photo: Stefan Brending, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE // Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons // Edited by El Planteo

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.