Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jan 2004
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2004 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Keith J. Johnson, Vancover

SENDING MIXED SIGNALS

Drugs are definitely a problem anywhere you go and from what I've seen, 
read and heard, methamphetamine abuse is clearly a problem in the state of 
Washington.

We have drug enforcement agents and law enforcement officers out trying to 
find the manufacturers, dealers, and users of methamphetamine, and I 
appreciate it.  But other facets of drug use must be targeted, too.

One need of drug users is drug paraphernalia and anyone can go into certain 
stores and purchase a pipe made exclusively for the use of methamphetamine.

Business owners can get away with this because these pipes are intended for 
tobacco products, but clearly these pipes are used for the smoking of 
methamphetamine.

I suggest that the drug paraphernalia law be revised to prohibit the sales 
of pipes made for the use of methamphetamine.  As Washington residents, we 
won't ever win this war on drugs if we are sending mixed messages about 
drug use.

Keith J. Johnson

Vancouver
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