Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2014
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Keith Leslie
Page: A4

GROUP URGES CRACKDOWN ON SALE OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

TORONTO - The Ontario Safety League urged the Liberal government
Thursday to crackdown on corner stores that sell crack-pipes, bongs,
grinders and other drug paraphernalia by taking away their right to
sell lottery tickets.

"If the convenience stores are forced to choose between the lucrative
sale of lottery tickets and selling drug paraphernalia contrary to the
Criminal Code, I believe they'll chose lottery tickets," said league
president Brian Patterson.

However, Finance Minister Charles Sousa insisted the government was
powerless to order Ontario Lottery and Gaming to remove a store from
its approved list of retailers unless there has been a criminal
conviction, even though the province is the only shareholder in the
agency.

"We don't have a mechanism within the system with which to remove
lottery terminals unless they've broken the law," he said.

"That's the only way we can do this."

The 101-year-old safety organization recently sent teenage volunteers
into 16 convenience stores in southern Ontario, and each was able to
buy drug paraphernalia associated with illegal drug use or abuse of
prescription drugs.

"The results were astounding," said Patterson. "Each and every store
that sold bongs sold them to a 17-year-old no questions asked."

The situation hasn't improved since the league did similar visits to a
larger number of retailers last summer, added Patterson, who said only
15 per cent of corner stores sell the illegal drug-related products,
and it's never the big name chain stores. Some have started selling
small, digital weight scales favoured by drug dealers.

Some bongs can sell for up to $70 - always for cash - and are a high
profit item for stores because they often get the products on
consignment, said Patterson.

"Somebody who wants to have drug paraphernalia in the community is
offering them up for free and then they're splitting the (profits)
when they sell," he said.

The Ontario Convenience Store Association said it supports the Safety
League's goal of getting the drug-related items out of corner stores,
but believes enforcing the existing federal law is the way to go, not
introducing new provincial legislation.
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MAP posted-by: Matt