Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 Source: Press and Guide (Dearborn, MI) Copyright: 2012 Press and Guide Contact: http://www.pressandguide.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5196 Author: Steve F. Arnold RETAILERS SHOULD CONSIDER DROPPING THE SALE OF DRUG-RELATED PARAPHERNALIA, LIKE THEY DID K2 To the Editor: A Dearborn-based group of concerned parents and "citizen soldiers" played a small and humble role in the recent successful initiative to ban the sales "K2" (synthetic marijuana) in the state of Michigan. This was a good thing for our youth. In support of this initiative, two separate protests/boycotts were held at retail establishments in the city of Dearborn - ownership at both of these facilities promised to no longer sell these dangerous products. Economic boycotts, or even the threat of such, are very powerful tools in the arsenal of democracy. However, the leadership of this group has subsequently been accused of blackmail, extortion, libel, using bad-language, bringing in outsiders (non-Dearborn residents) and even paying protestors. These charges, scurrilous as they are, are for the most part true. No apologies are offered for the methods employed, except for the usage of a bad language. This author let his temper and passion get the best of him=C2=85 and for that he is very sorry. To set the record straight, most retailers in the city of Dearborn chose not to sell synthetic marijuana in the past. They chose to forego the high profit-margins associated with these dangerous products and chose to have a "social conscious" rather than endangering our youth. For this they should be rightfully commended. Unfortunately, however, many of these same retailers presently choose to sell drug-related paraphernalia (e.g. wrapping papers and pipes). Ostensibly, the sale of such products are justified as being marketed toward users of tobacco products - for the most part this is a charade. They are primarily marketed toward users of marijuana, and frequently target our youth. Selling such drug-related paraphernalia and placing them near the cashier's window (where they most often are) serves to tempt and facilitate illicit drug usage amongst our youth. In short, by choosing to sell these products, retailers decide to put profits over community and become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. A bad choice for our youth. Perhaps our retailers do not understand the full ramifications of their poor choice. In the on-going battle for the hearts and minds of our youth, retailers are requested to demonstrate the same social consciousness they did in regards to "K2" and cease and desist from selling drug-related paraphernalia in our community. Progress on this front is being made, British Petroleum (BP) has directed in a nationwide-letter to all its retail stores that they are prohibited from selling "=C2=85items that are intended or designed for us e in ingesting , inhaling or otherwise consuming an illegal drug." Progress, yes, but BP has some work to do in regards to ensuring complian ce. Additionally, one of the Dearborn retailers boycotted for distributing synthetic marijuana is considering following BP's lead. He is a good man and a good father. He will make the right choice. Steve F. Arnold Dearborn - --- MAP posted-by: Matt