Archive for Friday, January 11, 2008
Officers work to rid stores of crude drug pipes
January 11, 2008
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City cracking down on sale of drug paraphernalia
Local law enforcement officials announced a crackdown on convenience stores and other retail shops selling illegal drug paraphernalia. Enlarge video
It only costs $2.35.
For just the change in your pocket and a trip to a local convenience store, you can purchase a crack pipe or glass pipe used to inhale methamphetamine.
“These were just bought yesterday,” Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said Thursday, holding a small glass cylinder containing incense. Another glass tube held a synthetic rose.
Douglas County law enforcement officials announced Thursday they will begin cracking down on local convenience stores and retail shops that sell items such as these, now considered illegal drug paraphernalia. A check of several Lawrence stores Thursday showed the items were readily available.
“These are squarely illegal, and you can’t sell them,” Branson said. “You’re going to have to get them off the shelves.”
It’s a problem Branson and state Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, have been addressing for nearly two years.
Davis introduced a bill in the Kansas House during the 2006 legislative session that changed the definition of drug paraphernalia.
“That bill allowed us to really get at items like this that are available at convenience stores here in Lawrence and throughout Kansas that really have no other purpose than to inhale meth,” Davis said.
Then in 2007, the law got some more teeth.
The term drug paraphernalia was expanded to include some of the definitions now used in federal law. And perhaps the biggest help to officers and prosecutors was there no longer has to be evidence of drug residue on the paraphernalia.
“The Legislature has been able to form a statute that we can really work with at this point,” Branson said. “This isn’t going to stop people from doing drugs, but it’s going to make it less available, and if we can make it less available even a little bit, it helps.”
Starting today, the Lawrence-Douglas County Drug Enforcement Unit will begin an “educational” enforcement of the new law.
Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern said officers will hand out fliers and information to local store owners to make them aware of the changes in state law. He praised lawmakers for their work last session.
“I think it’s a big step on the part of the Legislature to understand that there is a big meth problem out there, and these little things can only help,” McGovern said. “It’s (meth) a terrible drug, and we’ve got to take steps to intervene.”
After an initial educational period, officers will enforce the new law. The penalties for selling drug paraphernalia include a maximum of two years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.
During enforcement, officials said, officers will conduct random, unannounced inspections of local convenience stores and other retail shops to make sure everyone is complying with the new state law.
11 January 2008 at 2:56 a.m.
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Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…
In other news, you can still smoke marijuana with an apple.
11 January 2008 at 5:59 a.m.
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classclown (Anonymous) says…
I've seen people smoke dope using beer/soda cans. How long until we remove that form of drug paraphernalia off the shelves?
11 January 2008 at 7:12 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Let's see here…………………………………
I'm not taking credit for this little chickenbiosolids operation but it will be recalled that I have mentioned the fact that drug paraphernalia can be purchased at many locations in Lawrence, including several Downtown, where some have even been displayed in the front windows of the stores and I did tell you that this was coming.
More than one poster around this place wrote that I was full of it.
To those posters, I say, “Nanna-nanna-boo-boo!”
Now, of course, this whole thing is nothing more than grandstanding on the part of the DA and pretty ineffectual but it sure makes the “soccer moms” and the fundies feel good.
This is nothing more than an extension of the race-based marijuana laws of the1930s, now called “The War On Drugs”; otherrwise known as “The War On The American People”.
It is a shame that the taxpayers have been propagandised into believeing that this sort of thing is effective in any way.
Our drug laws are at the least Draconian and at worst criminal.
We learned nothing from “The Great Experiment” of the early Twentieth Century, otherwise known as “Prohibition”.
11 January 2008 at 7:28 a.m.
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kawryan (Anonymous) says…
Does this mean I can't smoke roll-your-own tobacco anymore because my unused papers are paraphernalia?
Meth/Crack users need help beyond laws against ugly fake roses in test tubes.
11 January 2008 at 7:33 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Attention all Pseudo-liberal/Neo-socialists, “Liberals” and smoking ban supporters!
This is only another “ban”, so it fits right into your repressive policies.
Don't worry.
Be happy.
Your are getting what you asked for.
11 January 2008 at 7:39 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
The morons are up early. This is about “CRACK” and “METH”. No mention of pot. wake up you freaks these two drugs destroy lives. This is a good thing and if don't recognize it you must be on crack or meth.
11 January 2008 at 7:57 a.m.
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Defender (Anonymous) says…
“This is a good thing and if don't recognize it you must be on crack or meth.”
The problem is that this won't prevent anything, period. I have no issue with them doing this, but it's effect will be zilch.
11 January 2008 at 8 a.m.
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themomof4js (Anonymous) says…
I personally was happy to read the article, it's about time they did something. What about the digital scales that convenience stores sell? Isn't that included? I also think that if they would start cracking down more on the dealers, it would help alot. I know of a convenience store that is known for “drug dealing” and it's very sad. All ages, I've seen it. I also hope that those that don't comply get what they deserve.
11 January 2008 at 8:09 a.m.
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cowboy (Anonymous) says…
watched people at the middle eastern quick shop on 23rd ask for brillo pads , clerk pulls it out from under the counter , same store that got busted for ephedrine sales years ago , great huh ?
11 January 2008 at 8:10 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
consumer1:
Take a look at this, which is the DEA site on which is clearly shown pot pipes which are classified as “drug paraphernalia”:
http://www.dea.gov/images_drug_paraphern…
Here is the text of the federal law, which clearly covers pot pipes, bongs and yes, even hookahs, such as those used at the Lebanese smoking establishment:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/21/86…
A much better explanation of the new law than the LJW put out:
http://www.kstatecollegian.com/home/inde…
Some of the draconian aspects of the new bill:
http://www.kslegislature.org/supplementa…
Here is the full text of the new Kansas law and so not even try to tell me that it does not cover pot pipes, bongs or anything that law enforcement decides is “paraphernalia”; I can read:
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/…
Have a nice day!
11 January 2008 at 8:14 a.m.
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doc1 (Anonymous) says…
This is a good thing. Even if it doesn't stop the problem. What are we telling children when they see drug paraphernalia for sale at these places. It sends the message that drugs aren't that bad and it's not a big deal. Good job on stopping the sale of this crap. Honestly how much extra does one of these sleazy shops make off this crap. $2.00 a day if that? The irony is that the crackheads usually rob the sleazy stores that sell this crap, because thats what their familiar with.
11 January 2008 at 8:16 a.m.
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logicsound04 (Anonymous) says…
I've known a couple of meth users in my day, and the idea that not selling paraphenalia in a convenience store would stop them from using “even a little bit” (in the words of Branson) is as laughable as it is wrong.
And any mention of the smoking ban on this thread is a complete red herring. Unless you are going to start complaining about_every single time_the government steps in and regulates something. Otherwise you just sound like a bitter old man who's cranky because he can't smoke indoors in public—oh wait…
11 January 2008 at 8:24 a.m.
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JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
There you have it, you crack demons. You are now shut DOWN. It will be imPOSSible for you to smoke crack from now ON!~) …stupid political shi+e…
11 January 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Essentially under this law, if you walk into a building materials store, buy a few brass fittings to repair your hot water heater and you get stoped by the fuzz on the way home, the fuzz could consider those otherwise harmless brass fittings to be the makings of a pipe, hence; drug paraphernaila.
Think that such things don't happen?
Think again.
11 January 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
They should shut down those losers at the Third Planet and throw them in jail for corrupting our youth.
11 January 2008 at 8:41 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
How quickly you all forget!:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/3325349/detail….
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/st…
b3:
Third Planet cannot “corrupt” your children but you certainly can!
11 January 2008 at 8:44 a.m.
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nobody1793 (Anonymous) says…
Just outlaw air. You can't smoke drugs without oxygen, and there's nearly 20% oxygen in the air right now! Congress knows this and refuses to act!
11 January 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
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akt2 (Anonymous) says…
Call me old fashioned, but what do you do with a Brillo pad? In my day we had head shops. There was one in Lawrence that had a rolling paper machine outside, so you could buy rolling papers 24/7. Of course we were allowed a smoking area at high school too. And you could smoke on planes, and at your desk at the office. Oh the good old days.
11 January 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
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smitty (Anonymous) says…
today's motto;
do some thing even if it is wrong
This educational effort is on the level of the wet shelter's efforts.
11 January 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
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freeordie (Anonymous) says…
Better outlaw map gas torches and pyrex test tubes, that's what the real meth users use. They are usually too paranoid to go and buy those pipes at the store. Ever known someone addicted to meth or crack? Yeah, this will end the madness, right. Shows how clueless law enforcement is.
11 January 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Don't worry, I am sure many websites are dedicated to show users how to create your own “bong”.
But that being said, while we are getting rid of those, can we also get rid of the “gambling machines” at places like the bowling alley (I saw it last night) and convenience stores. You know, the coin drop games and those stupid slot machines that are “prepaid phone cards”? Save those for the casinos. At least with the lottery tickets and Powerball/Keno you can control who uses them to over 18 better.
11 January 2008 at 9:16 a.m.
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Boston_Charley (Anonymous) says…
So, I've been thinking again and thinking again and I can't think of a time when a person who had just bought fittings for a water heater was stopped on the way home on drug charges because of it. How about a link to the story on this?
Also, yeah, me too I don't know what you do with Brillo pads. They would make lousy brownies.
11 January 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
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Boston_Charley (Anonymous) says…
Oh. Shoulda known it would be on wikipedia.
11 January 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…
I know thi sis gonan be a stupid question, but is there really a big meth problem here in lawrence?? Can anyone point out a story where theres been a meth lab busted here?? I just cant recall hearing of anything, not that it doesnt happen, im sure it does, but is it that big of a problem?? And the crack heads too, Im not hearing anything in the news about drug busts or crackhead arrests?? Am i just missing it all somehow??
11 January 2008 at 9:30 a.m.
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autie (Anonymous) says…
any cardboard tube..out of paper towels, toilet paper..piece of foil and a rubber band..viola! pipe.
11 January 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Thanks enforcer learn somethign everyday. Meth is a “poor people” drug, and yes it's a problem. I don't think you hear about drugs in Lawrence until you catch a dealer, or violence from someone on drugs, usually crack.
They had a whole season on “The Shield” where the dealers where going from crack to “tar”, so customers whould not become as violent, and not be as big of a police activity.
11 January 2008 at 9:37 a.m.
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abcd (Raymond Munoz) says…
ksdivakat: I don't know if there's a “big” meth problem in Lawrence, but I definitely know there's a meth problem judging from the amount of people that come into my office because their teeth are all messed up due to meth use.
11 January 2008 at 9:39 a.m.
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alm77 (Anonymous) says…
divacat, our “neighbors” down the street got busted about a year and a half ago. (I know it was in the LJW, but I couldn't find it)
Here are some others:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/aug/28…
http://www2.ljworld.com/blogs/lawrence_b…
Its way more common than you think. The small town I grew up in is totally overrun now with meth addicts. The first thing that addicts who go for help are told is get OUT of town, away from your “friends” if you really want to get better.
11 January 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
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akt2 (Anonymous) says…
It must be a human condition to want to be high on something. I have been hearing reports about the teens and young adults in our country. One thing was called “Robo tripping”. They drink Robotussin. And the other thing was that they are smoking catnip. I wonder if catnip and cold medicine are as addictive as crack.
11 January 2008 at 9:48 a.m.
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aeroscout17 (Anonymous) says…
Not trying to sidetrack or belittle the seriousness of drug abuse, but if they can hand out fliers and educate the retailers on this new ban, why can't this be done for the 1 1/2 year old State of Kansas law that requires your headlights on anytime inclement weather makes you turn your windshield wipers on?
Just guessing, but I think more people are killed due to not seeing oncoming cars in limited visibility than from the sale of pipes.
11 January 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
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MCwzMC (Anonymous) says…
What a wonderful law.
Next hardware stores should be proscribed. Just think of all the terrible meth pipes that could be made with goods sold in hardware stores.
Though I could care less about the removal of “glass tubes [holding] a synthetic roses” from conveniences stores because this stuff seems to fit the definition of worthless garbage, I do worry about the tendency of these laws to go overboard.
Take the case of Pseudophed.
Now, Pseudophed must be purchased from a pharmacist rather than over the counter.
Customers may, however, buy a drug called Phenylephrine over the counter and without the held of a pharmacist. This drug looks, and is marketed, as though it is Pseudophed, but there is one important difference - it does not work. In fact, for most people the benefits of using Phenylephrine are so small that the slight risks associated with the drug support its proscription.
The government approved Phenylephrine in 1976 but refuses to consider new evidence that the drug is ineffective and therefore a poor substitute for pseudophed.
Unfortunately, most cold-sufferers probably just pick up a package of the small red pills that remain on the shelf because they don't know that the drug has changed. Meainwhile, meth manufactures just have their raw materials imported from Mexico.
Another ineffective drug law motivated by mindless paranoia. At least the law limiting pseudophed sales really sticks it to one of the most nefarious criminal groups in America - cold sufferers.
http://news.ufl.edu/2006/07/19/decongens…
11 January 2008 at 10 a.m.
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rollcar (Anonymous) says…
I agree with doc1's comment above. Of course this isn't going to stop crack/meth users from doing their thing, but at least it prevents children from stumbling into a store that sells this kind of stuff and thinking “How bad can drugs really be if they sell pipes in downtown Lawrence with a wink and a smile?”. At least this shows an effort to rid the streets of this garbage, and I applaud it. Just because the war can't be won doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting.
11 January 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
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JJHawq (Anonymous) says…
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
LOVE the apple pipe.
That is classic. My favorite bong was made out of one of those big two foot rain guages and some plumbing equipment.
11 January 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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hawklet21 (Anonymous) says…
Ragingbear, you read my mind! I was reading the story thinking “And in other news, aluminum foil sales go up by 83%”
11 January 2008 at 10:22 a.m.
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masterblaster (Anonymous) says…
This thing is not about meth or crackheads.If you have ever known a crack or methead, everyone would understand that they will smoke it whatever however is possible. If you get rid of little crack pipes, trust me theres 20 thousand things more to smoke crack out of! unless you guys want actually want glass art to be banned because of some stiffneck ppl then I suggest you speak up. A crackpipe is much different than a worked piece of glass but sadly both are classified in the same criteria. we must put an end to propaganda and insane laws!!!
11 January 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
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jafs (Anonymous) says…
“Just because the war can't be won doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting.”
It may very well mean exactly that.
Prohibition was an attempt to prevent people from drinking, and the effects of Prohibition were to create huge criminal enterprises for the manufacturing/distribution of alcohol, along with the associated violence.
I don't think it deterred anyone from drinking though, and we decided it was a bad idea.
Why isn't the same true of drug use? It seems to me we are creating the same problems that Prohibition did, and not preventing people from taking drugs.
Legalizing drug use would prevent the criminality and associated problems. In addition, it would probably lower the prices and improve the quality. If we were to tax drugs (as we do alcohol and cigarettes), that would create a new revenue source, in addition to the savings of not trying to prevent/prosecute drug users. And, we could free up needed space in prisons for violent crimes - I don't see why a third-time marijuana user should be in prison while rapists/murderers are let out.
11 January 2008 at 10:41 a.m.
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hawklet21 (Anonymous) says…
Is this going to apply to “tobacco accessories” sold at Third Planet and Creation Station?
11 January 2008 at 10:47 a.m.
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MCwzMC (Anonymous) says…
Under federal forfeiture laws, a person can lose his or her home for selling paraphernalia.
Talk about draconian. I can't believe such a disproportionate punishment would be advocated (especially considering the arbitrary line between paraphernalia and non-paraphernalia).
At least syringes are still legal. Maybe the stores will just replace the pipes with a “medical supplies” section that sells syringes.
11 January 2008 at 10:52 a.m.
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rollcar (Anonymous) says…
Well let me put it this way. I don't want my kids walking around in a store that sells what are obviously designed to be crack pipes. If users want to smoke it out of a little blown glass swan from Silver Dollar City, more power to them, but I don't think reputable shops or reputable shopowners have any business blatantly encouraging it. Particularly in little shops shuffled in between toy stores and quality restaurants in downtown Lawrence.
11 January 2008 at 10:58 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
“hawklet21 (Anonymous) says…
Is this going to apply to “tobacco accessories” sold at Third Planet and Creation Station?”
Marion writes:
Sure does!
Go back and take a look at my earlier posts.
11 January 2008 at 10:59 a.m.
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yellowhouse (Anonymous) says…
At least these stores are getting the respect of the city and police to let it be known that they are going to crack down.
They even announced it in the News Paper!
People have the nerve to step up and say the Yellow House is treated like everybody else!
Yellow House gets served search a search warrant and is dragged through the courts for over a year for selling Toy Stars..even after the D.A. admits they arent illegal.
Yellow House gets served search multiple search warrants and subpoenas without ever getting a so much as a peep warning. Dragged through court for nearly 3 years without any evidence just to cover-up the missing evidence!!
This is discrimination by any other name.
11 January 2008 at 11:03 a.m.
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Afroman (Anonymous) says…
there are many problems with how society and media teach teens nowadays to act and what's normal behavior.
However, the fact that our elders are making an effort to clean up the world must be for a good reason. And therefore, those people that are caught up in that lifestyle will have to try harder or finally realize that it's not a healthy lifestyle.
I've been around drug dealers, pot-heads, and other drug addicts, and also people who lie, cheat, and steal.
All of which are as bad as the other, but when drugs begin affecting the people around the user, action must be taken.
Besides, there are many other things in which we are concerned about, but the teens of today are the future leaders of tomorrow, pot heads or not.
I am thankful for those who still care enough about all people; especially young people, enough to make such an effort to make a difference and let us young guns now that that kind of lifestyle will change your life. Not in a good way, but in a way that when you're older and looking back, you'll ask yourself why you didn't listen, because you could've been so much more…..
Thank you Officers, from those who Believe in what you're doing to right the wrongs of the past and present, and hopefully not the future!
11 January 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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hawklet21 (Anonymous) says…
That's too bad. Third Planet does NOT corrupt our youth, because they are discreet about their selection of “tobacco accessories.” Everytime I have been there, they are very careful to check IDs of everyone who wants to go behind the curtain. I've been with people who weren't allowed in because they didn't have an ID on them. Creation Station, not so much.
11 January 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
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dulcinea47 (Anonymous) says…
Apparently they're also going to come to my house and take my spoons, blender, and a whole bunch of other stuff… what a load of nonsense. Land of the free my *ss.
11 January 2008 at 11:26 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
YOU elected them!
Is should be remembered that the so-called “War on Drugs” had its beginning during the reign of that famous Democrat, FDR and has been continued by EVERY President since that time.
11 January 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…
ok, so im a bit…well alot nieve about this I guess, I seen somebody do a shot of meth once and it locked her jaws up for 10 minutes, I left and never tried that crap, but I do know of 1 person who was on it bad for years and shes younger than me but looks 20 yrs older, anyway, my real question is this…..are you guys being serious about all these things that you can make a pipe with or are you just being sarcastic?? Cause if you can use all those things to make one then Im scared to have anything…I have steel wool cause of mice!! am i in trouble with that????
11 January 2008 at 12:10 p.m.
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RedwoodCoast (Anonymous) says…
Hey, has anyone ever heard of rolling a joint out of a Bible page?
11 January 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
“RedwoodCoast (Anonymous) says…
Hey, has anyone ever heard of rolling a joint out of a Bible page?”
Marion writes:
Holy Smoke!
11 January 2008 at 12:17 p.m.
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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
This reminds me of a book I read several years ago, called “Clockers.”
http://www.amazon.com/Clockers-Novel-Ric…
This murder mystery centers around a young New York City crack dealer named Strike—he's actually more of a “lieutenant,” who works for a big dealer named Rodney. Strike wants to get out of the business and go straight, but his plans are put on hold when he becomes a leading suspect in a homicide investigation.
There are a few excerpts available online, including just the one I remembered. In the text below, Strike has arrived at a small convenience store owned by Rodney…
**********************************************
Everything for sale in the store was behind the counter; that way no one could walk out with anything. Strike scanned the shelves: diapers, Similac, lightbulbs, Tampax, dry cereal, kitty litter, coffee, kitchen matches, lighters, plus the trinity of base coke preparation: Arm and Hammer baking soda, Chore Boy scouring pads and McKesson rubbing alcohol. A pinch of baking soda mixed with a ten-dollar bottle of powder, sprinkled with water, heated, then cooled, left you with a pure nugget of smoking cocaine. And a pinch of Chore Boy wedged into your pipe would trap some of the cocaine vapors as they fled the burning nugget. Once the fumes hit the Chore Boy they reverted to an oily substance that hung in the strands; you could fire up the Chore Boy itself for a second hit, not as strong as the first but still included in the price. And the rubbing alcohol was just a poor man's butane, although some people preferred 151 proof rum.
Every small grocery store and candy store on every poor street in Dempsy always carried the trinity, no matter how skimpy and random the stock behind the counter. Not only did they carry it but they charged double what it would cost in a wealthier neighborhood—suply and demand being what they were. Rodney was a full-service ghetto capitalist: he'd sell you the bottles on the street and the paraphernalia in the store.
**********************************************
You may also remember the movie, produced and directed by Spike Lee…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112688/
11 January 2008 at 12:41 p.m.
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unite2revolt (Anonymous) says…
hahahahaha!! i read “more teeth” in an article about smoking meth! Best laugh all week. Cheers to Janet for getting that past editors.
11 January 2008 at 12:51 p.m.
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Casey_Jones (Anonymous) says…
Creation Station and Third Planet sell marijuana pipes?!?!
I thought those were only for tobacco! That's what the signs clearly state.
11 January 2008 at 12:51 p.m.
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acg (Anonymous) says…
No, ksdivacat, they're being quite serious. You can make a pot pipe out of most anything, of course. Meth pipes need to be glass, metal or they can lay it on top of a piece of foil. The thing with meth is its heated and reheated and heated and reheated again and again because the meth melts, leaves residue, they smoke on the residue and even the cut that comes in it. Because of the frequency of the heating, the pipe needs to be made of sturdier material than a pot pipe and a real meth head wouldn't think of using something disposable like an apple or a pop can because they may lose some of their residue in it. They also use little torches alot, vs lighters because the frequency of the use causes blisters to form on their thumbs from lighting the lighter and they burn up quickly. Meth makes me sad. The users that are stuck on it gross me out and just make me sad. I've known too many good people around Lawrence get hooked to that and crack. Scores of them. It's getting hard to even count. I don't know if Lawrence has a bad manufacturing problem but I know it has a really bad user problem. I've always been a proponent for the legalization of pot because for the most part it's a recreational drug. But not meth. Meth will never be. It grabs people and doesn't let them go. I know a girl who's been clean for 6 years and says she still wakes up every day wanting to smoke meth.
11 January 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
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staff04 (Anonymous) says…
I'm really bad about taking out the trash in my bathroom…currently, it is mounded with empty toilet tissue tubes. They don't have any drug residue on them. Can I get busted for possession of paraphernalia?
11 January 2008 at 1:23 p.m.
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gontek (Anonymous) says…
“This isn’t going to stop people from doing drugs, but it’s going to make it less available, and if we can make it less available even a little bit, it helps.”
I'd like to hear more explanation behing this statement.
The next step is to outlaw pipe reducer fittings, sink screens, pvc tubing and hardware store equipment that could possibly be used to create drug para-stuff.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm
11 January 2008 at 2:23 p.m.
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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
“These are squarely illegal, and you can’t sell them,” Branson said. “You’re going to have to get them off the shelves.”
Am I the only one who finds it more than a little ironic that Lawrence created a City Ordinance with lower penalties for marijuana use and possession than provided by State Law and is now all excited about following the letter of the State law on glass pipes? Perhaps Boog can propose a new City Ordinance with reduced penalty for paraphernalia to avoid Kansas law once again.
This town is becoming more of a joke daily. It is has become schizophrenic. While proclaiming individual freedom and diversity it has become both a model for intolerance of individual adult choices and a living parody of liberal nuttiness.
11 January 2008 at 2:50 p.m.
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fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
Of course, the difference is that all of that other stuff is used for other things. Has anyone ever actually seen someone buy one of those glass pipes with the rose in it for the rose? I personally don't know anyone that uses a bong for tobacco.
11 January 2008 at 3:07 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Why are people complaining about this? How does it hurt society to remove these items? Are you afraid that you can't buy your woman a cheap and fake rose or fill your house with the nasty smell of incense? Sure, it won't necessarily solve all problems, but there's really no non-drug use for these items.
11 January 2008 at 3:10 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Sigmund:
Follow the money.
11 January 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
Marion, if you mean the loss of federal student loan money and the States per student funding to KU if a student is convicted of a misdemeanor, wouldn't KU experience the same loss if the conviction was for paraphernalia or possession? Or did you mean the increase in fees to the City courts at the expense of the District courts? In either case I expect a City of Lawrence reduced penalty paraphernalia ordinance is already in the works! Next, reduced penalty City Ordinance for prostitution and bribery.
11 January 2008 at 4:24 p.m.
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Crossfire (Anonymous) says…
But without cheap glass we'd miss the all Flying Frogs.
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/182000/…
11 January 2008 at 4:34 p.m.
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laughmonkeyboylaugh (Anonymous) says…
Well, if you bothered to read the story you would see that they are attempting to eliminate items that have “no other purpose than inhaling meth”. Was it all the drugs you do that made you illiterate?
11 January 2008 at 4:39 p.m.
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been_there (Anonymous) says…
I've been taking my daughter to Third Planet practically since it opened. The pipes and such are upstairs out of view. She's in her twenties now and would never even think of smoking cigarettes or drinking alchol much less do drugs. I'm sorry you can't blame the bussiness. They probably got corrupted by that friend of theirs that you think is just so nice. I seem to remember the manager of Third Planet writing a letter to the editor complaining about parents letting their kids hang out downtown unsupervised on early dismissal Wednesdays. Evidently shoplifting increased greatly on Wednesday afternoons. It seems some parents don't want to take responsibility for their kids and monitor what they were doing. Perhaps some of the “corrupting” is occurring when parents can't be bothered to see that their kids have something constuctive, and legal, to do while they are at work.
11 January 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
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classclown (Anonymous) says…
Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Why are people complaining about this? How does it hurt society to remove these items? Are you afraid that you can't buy your woman a cheap and fake rose or fill your house with the nasty smell of incense? Sure, it won't necessarily solve all problems, but there's really no non-drug use for these items
====================================
Personally, I wasn't complaining. I was just pointing out that when any junkie wants to do his/her drugs, be it crack, meth or even pot, they will always find a way.
However, you make a good point about the fact that these particular items do not have any non-drug uses. As did some other posters here. I must say I am in agreement with you guys there.
11 January 2008 at 5:25 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Here's the problem, gang……………
Go back and READ the new law and you will find that it is very, very subjective and leaves the determination of potential uses of many items up to the discretion of the inverstigating officers.
The way is wide open for abuse and this law will be abused.
Can bongs, water pipes and hookahs be used for smoking tobacco?
Yes, they can but to charge you, you need only possess the item and “resude” of a controlled substance is not required to nail you with a felony conviction.
Yes, hookahs fit into the controlled category because they can be used to smoke pot, cocaine, meth and hash.
You wait…the abuses will soon start and all this biz of writing letters is merely a smoke screen for the surprise busts which will soon follow.
11 January 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
The text of the bill may be found here:
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/…
Also take special note ot he phrase “used or can be used……”
There ya go!
Also the bill describes phenylacetone as PCP.
Yeah, right.
11 January 2008 at 6:57 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Go down further in the PDF to 16(o):
“(o) Any evidence that alleged paraphernalia can or has been used to
store a controlled substance or to introduce a controlled substance into
the human body as opposed to any legitimate use for the alleged…..”
11 January 2008 at 9:10 p.m.
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localgirl9 (Anonymous) says…
“They should shut down those losers at the Third Planet and throw them in jail for corrupting our youth.”
“Of course this isn't going to stop crack/meth users from doing their thing, but at least it prevents children from stumbling into a store that sells this kind of stuff and thin