The two activists unfurled a roller banner reading ‘Free Bud’ (Picture: News Dog Media)

Just as a group of MPs suggest cannabis could be legal as soon as 2025, a pair of activists took to Manchester city centre to hand out free buds to passers-by.

The pair, who wore balaclavas to shield their identity, offered £800 worth of the Class B drug in Piccadilly Gardens as they ‘questioned UK laws’ prohibiting the use of marijuana.

The stunt earlier this month was organised by a man known only as ‘Outlaw’, an anti-Tory activist with over 11,400 followers on Instagram and who describes himself as ‘musician’ on his website.

It came just as a cross-party group of MPs predicted cannabis would be free to use for anyone in just five years as they returned from a ‘fact-finding’ mission to Canada, where the drug is legal.




Speaking anonymously, Outlaw said: ‘There’s no harm or loss to anyone because a few guys are handing out weed.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

The stunt in Manchester city centre was organised by a man known only as ‘Outlaw’ (Picture: News Dog Media)

People queued to get hold of the free bud (Picture: News Dog Media)

The stunt in Manchester city centre was organised by a man known only as ‘Outlaw’ (Picture: News Dog Media)

‘We question UK laws and legislation and like to test the authority.

‘Until somebody can convince us that there’s a legitimate reason for cannabis to be illegal, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing and keep pushing the barrier, regardless of the law.’

One of the two pot peddlers, however, was intercepted by police and arrested as they headed home.

Asked if he had been arrested, Outlaw replied: ‘You can’t arrest a character with a made up name and no face. Outlaw’s lawyers are right on top of the game.’

He added the Piccadilly Gardens stunt was ‘literally just the start’ and that £800 was ‘nothing’.

One of the two activists was eventually arrested (Picture: Dog Media)

Outlaw said ‘this is just the start’ (Picture: News Dog Media)

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.