Hundreds of pro-cannabis campaigners light up in George Square

So-called “420” day is observed around the world by supporters of the class B drug at 4:20pm.

The event went ahead despite Glasgow City Council denying organisers permission to host it.

Over the course of the day protestors openly smoked the drug while others sang and rapped about it.

Two arrests were made and six men were reported to the procurator fiscal for alleged drug-related offences.

The Glasgow Cannabis Social Club, who arranged the event, and members of a new political party called Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol (CISTA), spoke to people about their position on cannabis.

Chris Mackenzie, of the Glasgow Cannabis Social Club, said: “420 is the day around the world where the cannabis community come together to raise awareness - it is a community day.

“A regulated market needs to come in to reduce the harms caused by the prohibition of cannabis such as underage usage and the black market run for profit.”

Linda Henry, from Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland said: “Cannabis should have been legalised decades ago.

“I’ve been campaigning since 1979 and I’m not going to stop.

“In any sort of logical country it would be legal - it is such a waste of taxpayers’ money and police time - they should just let it be.

“People are networking, talking about where they’ve been to where it is legal and for medical reasons and it is opening people’s eyes.”

Chair of CISTA, Paul Birch, said: “Scotland has already broken away in terms of policy around drink driving, we think there is potential for Scotland to make further moves.

“This is our core, our base and this global event that has been going on for a long time with this one in Glasgow probably being the best the city has head.”

Former chairman of the Scottish Police Federation and member of the pressure group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Jim Duffy, also attended the event.

He said: “We realise the war on drugs is lost and is completely unwinnable.

“For 44 years we have had the Misuse of Drugs Act in Scotland - in the UK the price of drugs has never been cheaper or more plentiful; it has been an utter failure.”