A EURO MP jailed for possessing cannabis says his three days in Strangeways had done nothing to deter him from his battle to change the drug laws.
Talking after his release, Italian Marco Cappato, 31, said he believed he had made a point of principle and would continue his campaign.
Mr Cappato, from Milan, was locked up on Friday after Stockport magistrates heard he had failed to pay a £100 fine after he and fellow Euro MP Chris Davies were arrested in December 2001.
The pair had handed themselves in to police as part of a protest in support of jailed Stockport cafe owner Colin Davies.
Mr Cappato's colleague in Brussels, Mr Davies, paid the fine and costs at the time but the Italian paid only his costs.
After serving just three days of his seven-day sentence, Mr Cappato said: "It was fine. Anyone can handle three days in jail. The other prisoners were very friendly - it was nothing.
"I will continue raising support against drug laws.
"We want to push the British government to reform its drug laws but also, and more urgently, we need to get support for changes in time for the UN Narcotics Convention in Vienna next month.
"I have made the point that current drug prohibition laws waste people's time, prison space and money by targeting people who are doing no more harm than those using alcohol or tobacco."