SALUTING THIS FLAG WASN'T WHAT SOME READERS HAD IN
MIND

The Valley Way Motel in Niagara Falls is back to flying only one flag
on its front lawn - the Canadian flag.

For now, the second flag that was just below it, which was also red
and white and looked similar to the Canadian flag - except that it had
a marijuana leaf instead of the traditional maple leaf - has been taken down.

I noticed the marijuana flag some time ago and so did some of our
readers, who asked that we look into the problem. They thought it was
an insult to have the marijuana flag flying below our national flag.

The motel is at the corner of Valley Way and Stanley Avenue. That's
not very far from Valley Way Public School, Ontario's Tourism Welcome
Centre, the Ontario Provincial Police detachment and the Royal
Canadian Legion branch 51.

Stanley Avenue is well used, not only by local residents but also
tourists who come into our city from Highway 420.

No laws are being broken and there's nothing illegal about any of
this. But what kind of an impression does this leave with our children
and visitors who come here?

I'm a newspaper reporter - no one needs to remind me that freedom of
speech and expression are paramount and we should do everything we can
to protect those basic rights.

And this is not a debate about the medical benefits of using
marijuana.

If that marijuana flag was in someone's window at home, most of us
would probably not give it a second thought. But to have it in front
of a local business is questionable. To have it flying under our
Canadian flag is not only in poor taste, it's disrespectful.

There are those who disagree, including Doug Hammond, who rents a room
at the motel and looks after the office.

"A young kid had it, he asked me if I could put it up and that's what
I did."

If there are people upset by it, no one has stopped by the motel to
complain. He said a few people have said they like it and some have
stopped to take a photo.

"I didn't think it was a big deal. It's just a hemp flag, and you can
buy them anywhere. I don't see what's the problem," said Hammond.

He thinks some people "should get a life" and there are more important
issues to complain about.

It was not flown to insult anyone. If anyone from the Legion had
complained, he would have taken it down. Both his grandfathers were in
the army, he said, and he would not want to offend anyone in the military.

"It's not hurting nobody. It's just a flag, and I didn't think it
would have this kind of an impact on anybody," said Hammond.

The motel is owned by someone in Toronto. Attempts to contact that
individual were unsuccessful. There is no manager on site, and Hammond
opens up the office if any of the tenants need to use the telephone.

The day after The Review visited, the marijuana flag was taken
down.

Contacted about his decision, Hammond said it will stay down for now.
He's undecided if it will go up again in the new year.

We let him know that if people call us again to complain, we will
revisit this issue.