Polish Lawmaker Smokes Pot in Parliment

You're kidding, this guy likes to smoke weed?

Janusz Palikot, a Polish lawmaker, officially became one of the coolest politicians in the world today by launching his drive to legalize marijuana by lighting up a fatty on the floor of parliment.

"This is the weed," he told Associated Press reporters in his office in the lower house of parliament, lighting up a large incense joint containing what he said was a legal quantity of marijuana.

Earlier on Friday, the philosophy graduate known for his flamboyant political stunts, caused a stir when he announced he would "light up" in parliament.

"I want to condemn the hypocrisy concerning marijuana consumption," Palikot told reporters. "Someone said they would smoke a joint in parliament and the reaction was tantamount to someone announcing a coup d'etat."

Poland voted in April to soften drug laws by giving prosecutors the power to dismiss small drug possession charges but some say that's not enough and are still calling for full legalization.

Palikot is known in Poland for being one of the more colourful and controversial politicians, famous for his publicity stunts. In April 2007 during a PO press conference, Palikot wore a t-shirt with "I am with the SLD" ("Jestem z SLD") on the front and "I am gay" ("Jestem gejem") on the back. He later stated that he wanted to highlight the role PO should play in contemporary politics - as defenders of minorities.

On 24 April 2007, he produced a gun and a dildo at a press conference about alleged rape by a few police officers from Lublin. Palikot presented the objects as modern "symbols of law and justice" in Poland and the Lublin's police.

On 23 July 2008 Palikot said in an interview "I consider the President to be an oaf" ("Uważam prezydenta za chama"), a potentially illegal act under Poland's anti-defamation laws. An investigation was launched, then dropped.

In October 2008 during a TV interview about the PZPN (Polish Football Association) Palikot produced a butchered pig's head, a Godfather-style sign of declaring war against what Palikot called "corrupt" PZPN officials.

In January 2009 Palikot caused further controversy when he wrote in his blog questioning whether the Polish President's brother, Jarosław Kaczyński, is gay: "I – unasked – declare unequivocally that I prefer women. And you, Mr Jarosław?" As a result Donald Tusk, the leader of Palikot's party, the Civic Platform, launched an investigation into his behaviour.

On 5 July 2010, one day after the second round of the 2010 presidential elections Palikot announced that the late presidentLech Kaczyński "has blood on his hands", blaming Kaczyński for the presidential airplane crash in Smolensk.

UPDATE: According to new reports, Palikot totally pussied out and just lit 'cannabis-scented incense' instead of smoking a joint. So now, instead of being the coolest politician ever he's just the lamest.