ACTOR Ben Curtis – better known as “The Dell Dude” – says going to jail on a drug charge was “a blessing.”

Curtis was busted last February for buying a small amount of marijuana from a dope dealer on the Lower East Side.

As a result, he was dropped as the Dell pitchman.

“There was a $500,000 contract waiting for me,” the surf-talking Curtis told “Inside Edition.” “Unfortunately, Dell has a zero tolerance policy for marijuana.”

Curtis, 22, spent the night in jail and was released on his own recognizance after an arraignment.

“I think it’s incredible that I got to go through jail because it was horrible and miserable,” he said.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Ellen Coin told the former NYU drama student if he keeps his nose clean for a full year, the charges will be dropped and wiped off his record.