Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Author: Rob DeMone Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia) TOUGH SELL Like so many laws, the initiative to ban the sale of drug paraphernalia is a bad idea wrapped in good intentions. Within days, the City of Surrey will debate a bylaw to ban the sale of bongs, crack pipes and assorted gear used to consume drugs. White Rock Coun. Catherine Ferguson is on a similar crusade. The idea is commendable, and few can argue the merits. But the worth of any resulting law must be questioned, along with the ramifications. It is already illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone younger than 19, yet it's common practice. The law is tough to police, and harder to enforce on a sector of the business community where profit margins can be slim and fleeting. Now, bylaw officers will have added to their work-a-day the responsibility to pop into convenience stores to see what's on offer, and likely make a discretionary ruling on what's illegal. Is it the sensibilities of well-meaning civic officials that are upset? Or is there a crime being committed? If it's drug paraphernalia these councillors want purged, how about going after purveyors of hydroponic equipment? Plastic bags are used to ship pot - let's have done with them. Rolling papers? Verbotten. Lighters? Be damned! Are they offended that the drug gear is sold up front? Coun. Ferguson says her "jaw dropped" when she saw the bongs at an East Beach market. What about the stuff sold in shops, restaurants and night clubs she's not visited? See no evil... Consider that, in New Brunswick, so offended were the puritans they've banished all smoking material -- legal stuff, too -- to the realm of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. No longer can smoking matter be displayed. Shop keepers must stash cigs and such in drawers, behind blinds or under counters. Of course, that same province banned smoking in public places - including outside. Now there's a place where police don't have enough to do. In Langley City, they have introduced a bylaw banning the sale of drug gear - coupled with a new licensing requirement for existing business. It will require vendors to hold and display a $1,000 license to sell bongs and whatnot. Now there's a city that understands free enterprise. If small business owners want to prey on drug users, by gosh let's capitalize and make a few bucks ourselves. At least that way, businesses abetting the drug trade will pay some price -- since conscience clearly isn't an issue. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin