HEMP, a controversial drink containing cannabis plant extracts, went on sale for the first time in Britain yesterday at London's Selfridges department store.
The move follows clearance from the Home Office that the "alternative energy drink" does not contain any controlled drugs. Importers of the canned soft drink insist that, because it is made from extracts of the male cannabis plant, known as hemp, it does not have the same narcotic effect as the female variety.
The vitamin enriched grape fruit flavoured drink, which features a cannabis leaf on the can, is being imported from the Netherlands by Surrey based Shackleford Sales. Marketing director Sarah Shepley insisted it contained no alcohol and denied suggestions that it would encourage young people to take illegal drugs.
She said the drink was a celebration of the natural properties of the hemp plant, already grown across the EU to make paper and clothing.
The Beatles are still earning more money than other British groups. 27 years after splitting up. The group last year grossed £48 million, well ahead of Oasis, with £25 million and Queen £20 million.
While other groups make profits from concerts, the Beatles' earnings came exclusively from copyrights, publishing and merchandising.
Monaco's Princess Caroline (40) was photographed while holidaying with Prince Ernst August Hannover, heir to the Hannover dynasty. The weekly Oggi magazine showed pictures of the pair in each other's arms aboard the Grimaldi yacht off the Balearic islands.
Princess Diana was briefed yesterday before attending a US fund raising gala for mine victims in Washington next week, but officials stressed she would not be acting on behalf of the British government.
Diana, who has taken a high profile interest in the victims of antipersonnel mines talked for 30 minutes with Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Overseas Development Minister Clare Short.
Singer Mick Hucknall yesterday received an honorary degree. The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology said the Simply Red frontman had made an outstanding contribution to British and Manchester music worldwide.