Oz acting PM, opposition leader smoked pot
26 Sep 2008, 1645 Hrs

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Sydney, Sept.26 Acting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has admitted she smoked dope while in university, but adds that she didn't like it.

"At university, tried it, didn't like it," she said on the Fairfax Radio Network.

"I think probably many Australian adults would be able to make the same statement so I don't think it matters one way or the other," she added.

Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has also admitted that he smoked marijuana in the past.

Reacting to Turnbull's revelation, Gillard said she did not think it mattered that he had confessed to smoking dope in the past.

"I can't imagine that it matters in any way shape or form, no," news.com.au quoted her, as saying.

Professor Jan Copeland, director of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre in Sydney, said Turnbull's admission was credible, responsible and not typical of politicians.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan and Environment Minister Peter Garrett have also admitted smoking cannabis in their university days, while Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott has said he has had a "half-hearted puff".

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has not commented on his use.

Statistics show that 750,000 Australians use cannabis weekly and 300,000 use it daily. One in eight teenagers have smoked it in the past year. Rates have been consistently falling for more than a decade, but it is still the nation's most common illicit drug. (ANI)