Sir Paul McCartney has reportedly canned his cannabis habit to be a better parent.

The former Beatle, who has spoken openly in the past about experimenting with harder drugs including cocaine and heroin, told Rolling Stone magazine in a recent interview he stopped smoking marijuana for the sake of his eight-year-old daughter, Beatrice.

"I smoked my share. When you're bringing up a youngster, your sense of responsibility does kick in, if you're lucky, at some point," he told the magazine.

Beatrice is McCartney's daughter from his second marriage, with ex-wife Heather Mills. He has four other children.

McCartney, 69, is currently married to American trucking heiress Nancy Shevell.

The rock legend's appreciation for pot has been well known for decades.

In 1980, he was arrested in Tokyo and deported while on tour with his band Wings, after customs officers there found nearly half a pound of marijuana in his baggage.

Mills claimed McCartney would smoke joints as often as people would drink cups of tea during their divorce proceedings.

The new Rolling Stone interview shows an apparent change of heart.

"Enough's enough — you just don't seem to think it's necessary," he said.