Pubdate: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Regina Leader-Post; CanWest News Services Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.) HEMP MASCOT WEEDED OUT OF PARADE Headly the Hemp Leaf's first Buffalo Days parade appearance may be his last after the mascot for a Regina hemp products store was weeded out of the event. Tim Selenski, owner of Head to Head Novelties, said he followed all the rules to be in the annual parade, where he was dressed in a custom-made, bright green, 3.7-metre-tall outfit that resembles a pot plant. He said he had the proper permit. Selenski said he was using the opportunity to advertise his store, which sells hemp products and medicinal marijuana paraphernalia, and is an outlet for the Alberta-based Krieger Foundation, which provides medicinal marijuana to people with proven medical conditions. "Four blocks we walked (in the parade) and one of the co-ordinators asked me, he said 'there are too many complaints, please leave,' " said Selenski, accompanied by two friends driving a car with a hemp leaf flag in the parade. The parade was held Saturday and traditionally contains a variety of entries from community groups and local businesses, ranging from a Knights of Columbus float to the Hillybilly Vac Shack mascot. Selenski believes he was asked to leave because of concern that marijuana, not hemp, was being promoted by his presence in the parade. Tom Balkwill, one of the parade marshals, said the mascot's presence was brought to the organizers' attention by two police officers. "Our information was that it was not hemp, that it was depicting a marijuana leaf, and we were not in the position to be promoting marijuana as parade organizers. We made the decision that, no, we did not wish to have that in the parade," said Balkwill, who added the police officers said they would take care of the situation. Balkwill explained businesses given permits to take part in the parade are trusted to stay within the theme of the event, but do not have to reveal the exact details of their entry. Marshals try to accommodate any problems that come up during the parade and, if that fails, the entry will be removed at the next intersection. While entries were lining up before the parade began, organizers believed Selenski's entry was merely the vehicle he was driving. "The vehicle left at the start of the parade, then, all of the sudden, we have a mascot. One of the marshals in that area asked the mascot ... to get back in the car. Being in the car, it didn't appear as if it was necessarily marijuana," said Balkwill. Selenski said he left without a fuss. Almost immediately, Selenski said some Regina police officers approached him and were "pushy," demanding he remove the suit before he went any farther, then escorted him back to his business. Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said: "If this person has a concern about the conduct of any of our members, then what they ought to do is come and make a complaint, either initially to the watch commander or to our professional standards section. Or if he is not comfortable with either of those options, there is the office of the provincial complaints commissioner." Though he understands his store is controversial, Selenski is planning to take to the streets again. But this time, he'll be prepared for when the suit goes out in public again. "I'm going to make a sign that says 'honk for hemp' and also his name Headly the Hemp Leaf and have 'hemp leaf' underlined with an exclamation mark so (hemp rather than marijuana) is stressed," said Selenski. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin