Parade News: Marijuana Lollipops at Lakers Celebration and Stanley Cup to Gay Pride Event

The Lakers took to the streets with their fans on Monday to celebrate their win in the NBA Finals. (Well, most of the Lakers. Phil Jackson sat it out to tend to some health issues.)↵

↵↵What was the strangest thing seen during the parade? Was it Ron Artest’s top hat? My vote would go to a truck selling marijuana lollipops, via the Los Angeles Times:↵

↵↵⇥The assortment included brands of marijuana such as OG Kush and Grand Daddy Perp. The truck’s owner, Bilal Muhammad, said he was recently forced to shut down his store in West Hollywood and had taken his business on the road. ↵⇥↵⇥Customers approaching his truck were asked if they had a prescription card allowing them to purchase marijuana and then were handed a free lollipop.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥“It’s been working out very well,” he said of business before driving away as police became visible in the distance.↵⇥

↵↵↵Although it’d never be endorsed, maybe there’s something to be said about the NBA-weed connection. (After all, Richard Dumas once said “If they tested for pot, there would be no league,” in a New York Times report.) I’m not up on my California marijuana laws, so I’ve got no idea if the news that there was no police interference is even a big deal or newsworthy.↵

↵↵In other parade news, the Stanley Cup is still making its rounds. Yes, the Blackhawks already made their march with millions of fans lining the streets, but the Stanley Cup will be joining a parade of a different kind on Sunday, June 27. Blackhawks defenseman Brent Sopel will bring the Cup to the Chicago Pride Parade and accompany the Chicago Gay Hockey Association.↵

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↵↵⇥“I am honored to do it,” said Sopel, who will be accompanied by wife, Kelly, and his four kids, Jacob, 12, Lyla, 8, Jayla, 6, and Paul, 20, whom they adopted three years ago after Paul’s parents died within six months of each other.↵⇥
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↵⇥“The power of the Cup is incomprehensible, and we recognize the importance of doing this,” said Blackhawks President John McDonough, who has arranged for the Stanley Cup to be flown back from the National Hockey League draft in Los Angeles 15 hours early. “It’s important for the city and important for the franchise.”↵↵Having the sports icon of the moment in the parade is a big statement by the Blackahwks. Not to be outdone, the Cubs will also have a float in the parade featuring Ernie Banks. The sports world tends to lean a bit toward the homophobic side, so this feels like a pleasant surprise that we’re writing a post about gay issues and sports without it ending in how someone called another person a gay slur.
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↵(H/T to SbB and Wyshynski)
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