George Michael a Noted Weed Lover

George Michael, a 'Noted Weed Lover,' Spends AU$40,000 Per Week in Rehab After 30th Anniversary

Independent.ie reported "The star nearly died after suffering from pneumonia in 2011 and in October he cancelled his shows in Australia, saying he was wrong to think he could work through the "major anxiety" that had plagued him since then."

On his website, the 49-year-old singer said, "since last year's illness, I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience.  They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counseling which is available in cases like mine..."

However, Michael "believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself."

In some ways, Michael believes he was right: "...I was right to believe that the shows would bring me great happiness and that my voice would recover completely.

However, in other ways, he has to admit he was wrong: "I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Australia last December."

Perhaps it was Michael's problems with anxiety that led him to turn to weed? MusicFeedscalls him "a noted weed lover." However, Michael's statement makes no reference to what exactly his addiction was, that required rehab.

In 2012, George Michael celebrated his 30th anniversary in the music business, as perIdolator and released a new single to commemorate it, titled "White Light."