6:40pm UK, Saturday May 03, 2003

Cannabis was openly smoked in the streets of London at a pro-dope rally.

180 cannabis smoker

Pass it around!

Users rolled joints and smoked within eyeshot of police at the International Cannabis Day of Action in Brixton.

The event was just one of hundreds of demos taking part in 250 cities across the world.

Users were protesting against prohibitions on the possession, supply and use of the drug.

Organisers in Brixton said up to 10,000 people took part in the London demo - police put the figure at 3,000.

Police have taken a more liberal approach to cannabis possession in the Lambeth borough as part of a drive to focus resources on tackling hard drugs.

But Scotland Yard said action would have been taken against users who were openly flaunting the law.

A spokesman said: "If a police officer comes across someone who is smoking cannabis they will be asked to stop. If they don't stop the police officer will take appropriate action that could include confiscating the drug."