Saskatoon's daily paper, the Star Phoenix, on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.
http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=7f964eb7-7c02-451a-a865-7d77b68ae7e3

Crusaders promote pot with flagpole prank

Spirits were flying high in the downtown civic square on the weekend, when someone hoisted a mock Canadian flag with a cannabis leaf up a City Hall flagpole.

About a dozen marijuana activists joined a global protest Saturday against what they call state-sponsored discrimination against the drug, ending at City Hall.

City staff removed the flag early Monday morning, said Jill Cope, the city’s communication manager.

“It’s a bit disrespectful,” Cope said. “It is state property and it’s (about) civic pride. What can you do with pranksters?”

The flag went up one of four poles in the square that are reserved for special events, such as one for Saskatchewan’s centennial. The flagpoles’ ropes are locked down, but the pranksters found some other way to hoist the flag, Cope said.

The real Canadian flag is safer from tampering as it flies from the roof of City Hall.

Groups must apply to city council for permission to proclaim a day, week or month for a cause or special event. Flag raisings are usually tied in with proclamations, which cannot promote hatred, libel or any illegal activity.

“Things like (a cannabis flag) would not be appropriate,” Cope said. “It was not endorsed in any way by the city.”

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Photo galleries. Cannabis events worldwide. Free MMM posters by mail.
http://gallery.marihemp.com/mmm

MMM (Million Marijuana March).
First Saturday in May, or that weekend, or thereabouts.
Hundreds of different cities worldwide since 1999.
2005 city list, links, world map:
http://members.fortunecity.com/multi19/mmm2005map.htm
Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cannabisaction