Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia) Copyright: 2006 Queensland Newspapers Contact: http://thecouriermail.com.au/extras/forms/letter.htm Website: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/98 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) OUTRAGE OVER SCHOOLIE PIPE SPECIALS SHOPS on the Gold Coast have been accused of encouraging drug use among young people by advertising "Schoolies Specials" on bongs and pipes used for smoking "ice". Queensland Opposition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said today a number of businesses in the heart of Surfers Paradise have glass pipes and other implements associated with illegal drug use prominently displayed in their windows. "Glass pipes are available for $20 (and) ceramic bongs, many of them adorned with pop culture icons, are also freely available and on display," Mr Langbroek said. "One store was even promoting a 'Schoolies Spesh' on the items." Mr Langbroek, who is also the Member for Surfers Paradise, said a number of stallholders at markets on the Gold Coast were selling similar products. He said it was inappropriate for people to sell glass pipes used to smoke crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", when the nation is in the grip of an ice epidemic. However, he conceded the retailers were legally allowed to have them on display, and blamed the Beattie Government for rejecting a recent proposal to have them outlawed. "In Victoria, NSW and South Australia, retailers now face hefty fines and even jail for selling these types of pipes," he said. "The rejection of my proposal was not only a hypocritical move by the Beattie Government, but a move that puts potential young users at Schoolies at risk, as ice use is reportedly on the rise." Bongs and other utensils used for smoking cannabis are banned in Queensland, however retailers often bypass the laws by advertising them as tobacco-smoking implements or port sippers. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake