FOR THE QUEEN, A BOUQUET OF CANNABIS

If it was a particularly fragrant bouquet, the Queen didn't appear to notice.

But yesterday, during a trip to the Lowry Arts Centre in Manchester, the
Queen apparently became the recipient of a very different "pot plant'' - a
posy made from cannabis.

The bouquet, the possession of which left her technically breaking the laws
of her own Government, was handed to her by Colin Davies, a campaigner for
the legalisation of the drug, during her tour with the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen was pictured outside the Lowry Arts Centre when she unwittingly
took possession of the illegal substance from Mr Davies, founder of the
Medical Marijuana Co-operative.

After receiving the bouquet, she walked towards the royal limousine and
handed it to an attendant who stashed it in the back of the car.

Mr Davies (43), from Stockport, said: "It was a harmless way to bring to
the notice of Her Majesty the ludicrous restrictions on cannabis.

"We set up the co-operative to supply sick people who benefit from the
therapeutic value of cannabis.''

But not everyone welcomed Mr Davies' gift. Detective Chief Inspector David
Booth, head of Greater Manchester Police's special branch unit, said:

"There were more important issues for our staff to be concerned with on
what was a highly successful day.

"However, arrangements will now be made to speak to Mr Davies about his
claims.''