Cannabis plants have been put on display at the Chelsea Flower Show to educate visitors about the uses plants can be put to.

A special licence was required to grow the plants and to show them at the Royal Horticultural Society’s premier event.A special licence was required to grow the plants and to show them at the Royal Horticultural Society’s premier event. It was claimed to be the first time that cannabis plants have been at the show but, to the disappointment of many intrigued visitors, the variety on display is different to the one popularly known as weed.

The Cannabis sativa plants are the strain better known as industrial hemp and were being shown to illustrate the uses of plants in modern society.

They have been carefully cultivated to be rid of any hallucinogenic or medicinal qualities and are grown strictly for their fibre. The fibres can be used as an alternative to cotton and as horse blankets. They are also regarded as a highly efficient insulator for homes.

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Hallucinogenic varieties, those kept away from Chelsea, are thought to have medicinal qualities and are undergoing trials in the hope that they can be offered as a prescription drug to ease the pain of cancer and multiple sclerosis patients.

The decision to display cannabis was taken by the South East England Development Agency which wanted to show the uses of plants other than for gardens and food crops.

The cannabis specimens will not be offered to the public as part of the traditional plant sell-off on Saturday.

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