IT WAS billed as a UK first - a range of cocktails laced with cannabis that came with a raft of health benefits.

A Hampshire bar announced it was selling a selection of new drinks, collectively known as Gin and Chronic, which included a special ingredient extracted from cannabis plants.

But just hours later Orange Rooms in Vernon Walk, Southampton, said it wanted to "respect the local community" and was no longer trialling the cocktail.

The U-turn came shortly it had issued a press release extolling the benefits of Gin and Chronic, saying one of the ingredients was used to treat conditions including nausea, epilepsy and even cancer.

The release said the new drinks had been released in time for Easter.

It added: "The special selection of cocktails contains a special ingredient (CBD oil) which the bar claims will relax the drinker as well as being thought to have a plethora of health benefits and medicinal properties.

"It can also reverse fatigue and keep revellers feeling revitalised, so revellers can keep dancing until closing time.

"These benefits have been backed in a 2013 study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

"The oil is a potential medicine for the treatment of epilepsy, vomiting and nausea as well as anxiety.

"Some people suffering from various forms of cancer also take the oil claiming it helps reduce symptoms or even cure them, though there has been no scientific research that fully backs this theory."

The release said the cocktail was the idea of assistant manager Reiss Stanford and the venue's management team.

Mr Stanford said: “We’re always trying to be a step ahead with current trends and this was one we couldn’t turn down.

“Orange Rooms wouldn’t be Orange Rooms if we weren’t sporadic and creative.”

But shortly after the release was issued Mr Stanford said Orange Room wanted to respect the local community and was no longer trialling Gin and Chronic. He declined to make any further comment.

A Hampshire police spokesman added: “Products that contain a cannabis-based ingredient called cannabidiol (CBD) are legal.

"CBD is non-psychoactive and is considered safe because it’s extracted from hemp, not street cannabis.

“In the UK, hemp is legal as long as its THC content is less than 0.2 per cent.

“Hampshire Constabulary’s Force Licensing & Harm Reduction team would remind licensed premises to ensure they uphold their licensing objectives, specifically to encourage public safety and avoid irresponsible drink promotions.”

Phil Bates, the city council's licensing manager, added: "We concur with the police message that this is a legal product, but consideration needs to be given to the licensing objectives when promoting premises and events.

"We have been informed that the event has been cancelled by Orange Rooms."