There’s nothing wrong with a puff on a joint between friends, says increasingly outspoken TV host Karl Stefanovic.

His comments have sparked up an ongoing debate on legalisation of the party drug.

He said when he was a post-degree cadet he had his first puff of marijuana and had a lot of laughs.

“I remember someone just handing it to me and saying, ‘Here, you need to loosen up, Preppy.’ I had a lot of laughs,” he told news.com.au.

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“Look, I’ve never had a drama with people smoking marijuana. I’ve never seen a violent person on weed.

“Obviously the jury’s still out on the long-term medical effects of it, but a joint with friends, I’ve always thought, is just great fun.

“We do stupid things as adults, but I’ve never thought of that as one of them.”

Stefanovic’s comments come as states and territories are discussing the legalisation of medical marijuana to treat the effects of cancer treatments and other illnesses like epilepsy.

He has attracted increasing attention for his actions including making headlines by tackling the Prime Minister Tony Abbott over his trustworthiness on the often soft-interviewing Today Show. He also exposed broad acceptance of male chauvinism when he disclosed that he had worn the same suit every day for a year.

His comments were well received among legislators and campaigners for the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use.

Victorian upper house Sex Party MP Fiona Patten wants total legalisation and regulation of marijuana.

“I wish more adults and particularly high profile adults talk about their drug use,” she said.

She said the health issues sometimes associated with marijuana use were questionable, because there was no way to say anything was completely safe, including alcohol and sugar.

“I don’t think that’s an argument,” she said. “What is making drugs unsafe is the unregulated sale of them.”

“It’s easier for a 16 year old to get a joint than it is to get a cigarette,” she said.

And his comments were well received in Nimbin, New South Wales, from the head of the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party Michael Balderstone.

Mr Balderstone runs the Hemp Embassy in Nimbin, a shop promoting marijuana use, and organises the Mardi Grass rally to end prohibition on marijuana use.

“I really appreciate him being open about it, and it is no big deal, he’s dead right,” Mr Balderstone said of Stefanovic’s comments. “Prohibition is the damage.”

“Don’t believe the reefer madness.”