JOAN BURTON HAS a lot on her mind these days.

The Labour leader unwittingly posed beside a massive joint at an art event in Farmleigh.

Photographer Richard Forrest who snapped the Minister said she seemed distracted as she examined the giant ‘spliffascope’.

Source: Richard Forrest

“She came in and asked me a few questions about the work and every time I started to answer she started talking to someone else.

“I took a few photos of her with other people and with some of the work. I asked her to pose with the spliff and she did,” he said.

Forrest said that she didn’t seem to recognise that the piece was a huge joint.

“She looked through the wrong end and then went around to the correct viewing section. I was fairly baffled she didn’t recognise it. I suppose there’s a lot on her mind,” he said.

The exhibit was part of a show featuring artist Aoibheann Greenan.

In an interview with TheJournal.ie earlier this year, Joan Burton said that she would be in favour of legalising cannabis for medical use and pain relief but would not like to see the laws relaxed any further.

- First published 3.50 pm