Parents group wants the pot images out of fashion

A Huntington Beach parents organization has asked nationwide clothing retailer Tilly’s to pull merchandise featuring images of marijuana from its shelves.

The company, which has locations in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Tustin, appears to be acquiescing to the demand, at least on the local level, according to one parent. But the chain is still selling pot-theme clothing online, though by Wednesday the types of items offered on the website seemed greatly reduced.

Several members of Youth Matters, a subcommittee of Edison High School’s PTSA, and its chairwoman, Kim Green, told the retailer that the products, such as leggings, tops and swimsuits with marijuana imagery, could desensitize children to drug use.

“The more they see it, and the more it’s common in their world, it’s less likely that they’ll be shocked by it or concerned about it or listen to their parents about it,” she said.

Green said representatives from Irvine-based Tilly’s told her in an email that the chain would remove the marijuana-logo items from its Orange County and Riverside stores, but a company representative declined to comment for this story.

An employee at the Huntington Beach Tilly’s on Beach Boulevard said Tuesday that the store was taking the items off its shelves.

Youth Matters became aware of the items about a few weeks ago when a parent saw a pair of leggings decked out with marijuana leaves from See You Monday, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand.

Some merchandise was still available from the Tilly’s website Wednesday, but Green said she hopes to get the retailer to remove online availability as well.

The Edison PTSA started Youth Matters in the fall of 2010 as a way to improve communication among students, teachers and parents about drug and alcohol use, Green said.

She added that the group has begun working with the Huntington Beach City School District students in kindergarten through eighth grade and hopes to collaborate with the high schools to spread the anti-drug message.

“We need to always keep our eyes open and stay aware, even if it’s uncomfortable,” she said. “Sometimes we don’t want to know because we’d have to do something about it.”

The organization will next turn its attention to retailer Active Ride Shop, which also sells clothing with drug imagery.

“It’s a safety and life issue,” Green said. “It’s not like Pokémon cards. Kids are dying from [drugs].”