Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2013
Source: Era, The (CN ON, Newmarket)
Copyright: Metroland 2013
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/newmarket-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2678
Author: Jeremy Grimaldi
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia)

YORK REGION MARIJUANA ADVOCATES UPSET BY CRITICS' ANNOUNCEMENT

A statement from a safety group about drug paraphernalia being sold 
in convenience stores has prompted angry reactions from marijuana 
advocates around the region and beyond.

The Ontario Safety League held a media conference Monday about a 
number of pipes and bongs being sold in convenience stores around the 
city and region.

It advises residents that it is illegal to sell drug paraphernalia 
under the Criminal Code and urges people to report stores that sell 
such items to police.

The York Regional Police confirm the Criminal Code of Canada clearly 
states that to sell "instruments or literature for illicit drug use 
is guilty of an offence".

"It's pretty straightforward," Const. Laura Nicolle said. "It's a 
crime to sell drug paraphernalia and a person can be charged with this.".

However, marijuana advocates say the safety league should be focusing 
its attention on "real dangers" in society rather than attempting to 
crack down on items used in the smoking of cannabis, which has been 
legalized in a number of western countries, including many states in America.

"They should be more concerned with trying to police the number of 
legal pharmaceuticals that people ingest and die from on a daily 
basis," said Marco Renda, from Vape on the Lake, a "cannabis 
friendly" lounge in Toronto. "No one's ever died from a marijuana overdose."

The campaign appears to signal too many resources being spent trying 
to police something that could possibly be made legal after the next 
election depending on who is voted in, he said.

"I think they need to do a better job of educating children about the 
dangers of pharmaceuticals out there. That's what kids are getting 
into trouble with," the publisher of Treating Yourself Magazine added.

Jim Clough, a manager at Happy Dayz in Newmarket, said he understood 
why the safety league is taking the action, considering head shops 
such as his ensure people are 19 or older, while convenience stores 
may not have such rigorous checks in place.

However, he felt the safety league may be overblowing the dangers involved.

"I think it's a little silly sometimes how serious people take it," 
he said. "A bong is just a piece of glass, not a weapon."

However, Brian Patterson, league president and a Newmarket resident, 
disagreed with the premise of the pot advocates' argument and 
insisted they were not targeting head shops.

The bottom line is the Criminal Code makes it illegal to sell drug 
paraphernalia, he said, adding he doesn't think people purchasing 
chips, pop and a lottery ticket should be faced with it when in 
community hubs such as convenience stores.

"It's kind of in your face," he said. "The fact that there are other 
issues about whether pot should be legal or not, is not our argument. 
Yes, it's used for cannabis, but it's still illegal. I don't know 
when it started but we have drawn a line in the sand."

Mr. Patterson added he does support the Partnership For A Drug Free 
Canada in its campaign to encourage people to return unused 
medication to the pharmacy, but it has chosen a different issue to highlight.

He said he is also aware of cannabis grinders being used to mix 
dangerous cocktails of pharmaceuticals.

This is not the first time the issue has been raised in Newmarket.

In 2001, Shawn Stockman's shop, the Happy Hempster, was raided by 
York Regional Police who seized his bongs and pipes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom