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."