Keith Richards enjoys 'an early morning joint'

Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Photo / AP

Keith Richards starts his day with "an early morning joint".

The Rolling Stones rocker has confessed he still regularly smokes cannabis and is pleased more US states are legalising the drug, even though he is unconvinced of its benefits.

He revealed: "I smoke regularly, an early morning joint. Strictly Californian.

"One of the most pleasant things to watch is a map of America [showing States where cannabis is legal ], where it goes, green ... green ... green.

"Whether it's a good thing in the long run, I don't know."

The 71-year-old guitarist gave up heroin in 1978, cocaine in 2006 and eventually claimed he had "given up everything" in 2010, with his most recent comments suggesting he has since been lured back to smoking cannabis.

However, the musician - who is married to model and actress Patti Hansen, 59 - doesn't dabble in any stronger substances.

Asked if he still drinks alcohol, he told MOJO magazine, "I like to keep my hand in," but insisted, "Other than that, I'm pretty straight."

Writing in his 2010 autobiography 'Life', Keith said he believes the secret to his good health is that he was careful not to overdo things when it came to his drug taking.

He wrote: "I'd never put more in to get a little higher. That's where most f**k up.

"It's the greed involved that never really affected me. People think once they've got this high, if they take some more they're going to get a little higher.

"There's no such thing. Especially with cocaine. Maybe that's a measure of control and I'm rare in that respect."

- Bang! Showbiz