Russell Brand to U.K. Parliament: Drug Addiction Is a Disease, Not a Crime

Comedian Russell Brand testified before the U.K. Parliament Tuesday, urging politicians to treat drug addiction as a disease and a health issue rather than a criminal matter.
True to his comedic style, Brand cracked jokes throughout his testimony, but for the most part, he maintained a serious tone. Brand, a former heroin addict, told the members of Parliament, "It is more important that we regard people suffering from addiction with compassion and there is a pragmatic rather than a symbolic approach to treating it."
Check out a clip from Brand's testimony below.