Up in smoke??

The Northeast Times ^ | Oct. 5 , 2006 | William Kenny

[gcruse]

Which is worse? "Conservatives" destroying the property of others and bragging about how righteous they are.

[Mr. K]

You have to understand- we were prepared to face any legal consequences.

We knew what we were doing when we broke the crack pipes- and he no longer sells them.

He never called the cops either- He knows what is the intended use of those pipes, and so do the police. In fact it was an officer who told me what they were for.

[Mr. K]

Do you do anything in your neighborhood to fight drug-crack addicts?

We knew we could face legal consequences and were prepared to accept responsibiity.

[gcruse]

"Do you do anything in your neighborhood to fight drug-crack addicts? "

Did you fight a drug addict?

[TKDietz]

"To anyone with a working brain, it's obvious that this "check-cashing" place was a combination money laundry/drugdealing supply store."

How do you reach the conclusion that it was a money laundering store? Do you even know what "money laundering" means? Would you reach the same conclusion if it was a head shop with an ATM in it?

[Gone GF]

Well at least if they pass this law the druggies will no longer have a source to buy Ziplock bags, lighters, pipes, rolling papers, cigarette rolling machines, screens for pipes, hookahs, spoons, razor blades and so on. We'll be much safer.

[TKDietz]

"Apples are drug paraphernalia?"

Potatoes can be too. You can make a pipe out of just about anything. Coke can pipes are probably the easiest to make. They just make a little dent with their thumbs near the bottom of the can for the "bowl" and poke a few pin holes in it and it's ready to go in less than thirty seconds.

[Mr. K]

Why are you on that particular side of this issue?

Do you do crack? Do you like or want crack addicts in your neighborhood? Do you want you neighborhood store selling crack pipes?

If you do, that is fine- we didn't and we stopped it. You ignored my comments in answer to your question, and posed another ridiculous one.

We knew what the consequences could be and were prepared to accept them. There were other drug activities in the neighborhood, which was right next door to a children playground, and we 'unwelcomed' them... so YES we did fight crack addicts, and cleaned up our neighborhood.

It worked, and we were prepared for any consequences.- legal or otherwise.

[WKenny]

Good thought, except that the U.S. Constitution doesn't ensure "the right to bear crack pipes." But I digress. I have no problem with folks who wish to legalize marijuana use -- or other banned substances -- as long as they make their case in a thoughtful way. However, unless/until that happens, illicit drug use is illegal. Therefore, these "head shop" owners and other business folk who sell paraphernalia, no matter how conscientious they may be about monitoring clientele, are inherently promoting and aiding illegal activity. They may try to veil themselves behind the "smoke/tobacco shop" facade, but legitimate tobacco shops don't sell cheapo "blunt" cigars and fruit-flavored rolling papers which obviously target young people -- let alone baggies, scales, bongs and such. Even "liberals" should relate to the problem of marketing to youths, as their pied piper -- Mr. Clinton -- went after all of those cigarette manufacturers for precisely the same thing. Anyway, for every "responsible" head shop owner, there's many, many out there who simply don't give a damn and will sell anything to anybody, regardless of age or whatever. They're not in it because they believe pot should be legal. In fact, they'd rather it remain illegal, so they can sell their stigmatized products at a premium. This is a problem particularly in the cities, where children -- grade school age that is -- are getting their hands on this stuff. Just ask any rehab counselor in the ghetto, and they'll tell you that most of their clients had easy access to and began using drugs as a child. It's true.