SAN FRANCISCO -- A ceramic bust of President Obama from the local manufacturers of the famed Chia Pet has one national retailer pulling it from shelves over concerns that the item is offensive.

The Chia Obama is a terra cotta likeness of President Barack Obama that users are supposed to grow the sprout-like chia plant on where his hair would be.

Despite growing sales, Walgreens just yanked the item off test market shelves in Tampa and Chicago, saying customers complained Chia Obama is "racist."

The novelty gift is the brainchild of San Francisco adman Joe Pedott, the creator of the popular Chia Pet back in the early 1980s. Pedott markets 15 Chia products and supports an inner city charity. He's stunned and heartbroken at the response to his product.

"I voted for Obama," said Pedott. "Our country is in a mess. It's terrible. The whole purpose was to do good. We did a Hillary; is that bigoted too?"

KTVU took Chia Obama around the Bay Area and sampled some opinion, both pro and con.

"I like it," said visiting Memphis resident Marty Chargas. "I don't think Obama's had this much 'fro since '76."

"Ooh, we don't like Obama, so it's probably perfect," laughed Othello, Washington's Pam Pass.

"Obviously, we make fun of presidents all the time. But if this is a way to give respect to him, I don't see it," said Orange County resident Ali Sabet.

Most people seemed to think the Chia Obama was not offensive, but also not for them.

"Everyone has a choice of whether to purchase it; I won't be," said Julie Davidson-Gomez of San Francisco.

"I don't think it's disrespectful. It's not something I would buy," agreed Elaine Ortiz of Oakland.

Pedott is now marketing Chia Liberty – a Chia version of the Statue of Liberty – with Chia Obama.

The Chia Obama sells for $20. Pedott says online sales have not slowed despite the controversy. But he's still got 160,000 Chia Obamas in stock and is now working with other stores.

He still insists the Chia Obama is a tribute to the President.