Pubdate: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: CanWest News Services Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.) PARADE SNUFFS OUT HEMP MASCOT Headly the Hemp Leaf's first Buffalo Days parade appearance in Regina may be his last after the mascot for a local 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. Selenski said he had the proper permit and that he was using the opportunity to advertise his store that sells hemp products, 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. 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." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin