MP backs out of smoking joint

The leader of a new left-wing party in Poland threatened to light up a joint in Parliament yesterday but in the event burnt incense instead.

Janusz Palikot announced the stunt as part of his campaign to get soft drugs legalised. However, his plan put him on a collision course with the Speaker, Ewa Kopacz, who refused to let him break the law in parliament.

She reported him to prosecutors, and in the end, Palikot lit incense sticks containing a tiny amount of cannabis. They emitted a scent of burning marijuana, but Mr Palikot, who is introducing a draft law that would decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana, said they were purchased legally.

AP