City rains on Abbotsford pot activist's parade
Tim Felger participating in Abbotsford's Canada Day parade in 2007.
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: June 24, 2009 2:19 PM
Marijuana activist Tim Felger’s plans to participate in Abbotsford’s Canada Day parade may have come to a screeching halt.
The city has cancelled Felger’s permit based on the signs he planned to display.
Among other things, Felger intended to pull a little red wagon with a sign reading “Your mom called, she said to bring home a $20 bag.”
“They cancelled the permit because they said [the sign] was unacceptable for a family-oriented event,” Felger said.
He plans to take the City of Abbotsford to Supreme Court for violating his charter rights guaranteeing freedom of speech.
“Free speech means you have to tolerate speech you don’t like,” he said.
According to city regulations, participants in the annual event sign waivers agreeing not to “demonstrate, display or exhort unlawful behaviour while participating in the parade.”
Abbotsford’s pot advocate has participated in the July 1 event over the last couple years in an effort to publicize his views on drug prohibition and the war against drugs.
Abbotsford Police arrested Felger in 2007 for riding a mini motorbike plastered with decals of marijuana leaves during the parade, because he was under a driving prohibition.
He was also arrested and charged in May with a number of drug offences for allegedly trafficking pot out of his downtown store.
A city hearing to pull Felger’s licence for his Da Kine store on Essendene Avenue is rescheduled for July 27.
Felger said the city shouldn’t be able to suspend his licence when he hasn’t been convicted for the crime.
“I’m not to be presumed guilty before trial.
“As long as the facts are in dispute ... it’s unconstitutional.”
Regardless, Felger said he plans to have his storefront open and controversial signs back up in time for the parade and the Berrybeat Festival.
“To me, nothing’s changed. It’s still the drug war, and every day I get up and go at it.”
v2
