HEMP OWNER FUMING OVER SNUB

Headly the Hemp Leaf's first Buffalo Days parade appearance may be his
last, after the mascot for a Regina business was quickly 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, including having the proper
permit. He added he was using the opportunity to advertise his store,
which sells hemp products and medicinal marijuana paraphernalia and is
an outlet for the Krieger Foundation, which provides medicinal
marijuana to people with proven medical conditions.

"I found out about the Buffalo Days parade, entered my name in it,
waited in line for three hours (before it began). Everyone had seen
it. All the co-ordinators had seen it, all the police had seen it."

"Four blocks we walked and one of the co-ordinators asked me, he said,
'there are too many complaints, please leave'," Selenski said, who was
accompanied in the parade by two friends driving a car with a hemp
leaf flag.

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 hired a former Disney costume designer to create the suit. It
cost $2,000 to make and stands 12 feet tall when it's being worn.
Selenski believes he was asked to leave because of concerns 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.

"My understanding was that the vehicle was the parade entry. 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 also had concerns about how he was treated after being asked
to leave. He said he left without a fuss and started walking towards
his store, which was in the neighborhood. Almost immediately, Selenski
said a couple of Regina police officers approached him and were
"pushy", demanding he remove the suit before he went any farther.

"Right in the middle of the street, right in front of everyone," said
Selenski, who added police escorted him back to his business.

Elizabeth Popowich, spokesperson for the police, was not able to
comment on Selenski's complaint about his handling by the police, but
did say any issues regarding the actions of a police officer should be
directed to the appropriate authority.

"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," said
Popowich.

Though he understands his store is controversial, Selenski has worn
his hemp leaf outfit on Albert Street and never had a problem. He is
planning to take to the streets again, but this time, he'll be prepared.

"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 it's stressed," said Selenski.