Cincinnati mayoral candidates 'free marijuana plants' were tomatoes

CINCINNATI, June 6 (UPI) -- A Cincinnati mayoral candidate promised to hand out free marijuana plants to promote his platform of legalizing cannabis, but handed out tomato plants instead.

Jim Berns, a Libertarian, said his stunt at a busy intersection Wednesday was meant to draw attention to his efforts to "re-legalize marijuana," Cincinnati.com Politics Extra Blog reported Thursday.

"I wanted to bring attention to the fact that marijuana should be re-legalized in Ohio and in Cincinnati. You can see by the turnout that people want that," Berns said. "I'm just disappointed I didn't bring more plants."

Berns was joined by about 30 sign-waving supporters, many of whom took home tomato plants.

"I anticipated it wouldn't be pot," said Alex Griffith, a University of Cincinnati student who took home a plant.

Berns announced his plan to hand out "free marijuana plants" in a news release prior to the event.