Pubdate: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 Source: Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC) Copyright: 2007 Daily Reflector Contact: http://www.reflector.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1456 Author: DAVID E. BARRETT FRUITY CIGARS HELP FUEL CITY'S DRUG WOES I discovered a curious item for sale the other night while waiting in a long line at a gas station. Folks just couldn't seem to get enough of these individually sold cigars. These aren't your grandfather's stogies mind you. No, apparently these particular cigars cater to a new generation of individuals who prefer the experience of inhaling a fruit basket. They have watermelon, cherry, grape and even apple flavors. I saw one young lady with two little children purchase a grape flavored one. Behind her was a wild eyed looking fellow who requested the watermelon. Now, get a load of this. As I walked back to the car, I saw the mother emptying out the tobacco onto the concrete. Apparently she only wanted the rolling paper. I wonder why? Article 5-B of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act explicitly prohibits objects for ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing marijuana, cocaine, hashish or hashish oil into the body. Only the most obtuse would fail to recognize these popular cigars are designed specifically for this purpose. Everybody knows pot has a foul odor, hence the motivation for masking it with fruit flavors. My question to law enforcement and the political leadership is why these cigars are openly being sold in every convenience store in Greenville? It is an absolute shame that our city's drug problem is being facilitated, in part, by Greenville's own business community. But it is even more embarrassing that our leadership looks the other way. Local candidates have a tendency to speak broadly about combating Greenville's drug problem. Removing these cigars from circulation would be a drop in the bucket, but it is something tangible and it sends a stern message to the underclass in town. Wreck your life someplace else. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart