cannabisnews.com: Why We Must Attack The Drug-Paraphernalia Trade Why We Must Attack The Drug-Paraphernalia Trade Posted by CN Staff on March 27, 2003 at 18:37:02 PT By John P. Walters Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The drug trade is an ugly business that keeps its face hidden. Trafficking drugs is illegal, and no community can thrive if it treats that trade as acceptable. We now know that if a neighborhood looks the other way, the drug trade expands and traps more young people in addiction. We know we must fight back against the drug pushers, and displace them from any corner where they set up shop.But there's another face to the drug trade that is all too frequently tolerated out in the open. It is the business of trafficking in the tools of drug abuse -- what law enforcement officials term "drug paraphernalia." What is the role of the paraphernalia business in drug trafficking? Young people don't wake up one day knowing how to acquire illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin or even marijuana, nor do they know the techniques for consuming them. Rather, they have to be taught how to locate drugs, how to prepare them for use, and the best ways to inject, snort or smoke them. Many of them also rely on the devices that make the drugs a "consumable product." Some kids may learn about these products from their peers, or even by watching Hollywood entertainment. Too many young people, however, are being trained in the "how-to's" of the drug trade by the paraphernalia industry, and particularly the online drug paraphernalia industry. It is a nationwide business with an estimated value of a billion dollars, and it includes products such as imitation Hi-Liter markers containing a marijuana pipe or soft-drink cans fitted with a false bottom to conceal drugs.Let's face it; a lipstick dispenser that holds a hidden crack pipe simply has no other purpose than to facilitate drug use. Nor is there any other rationale for them being sold than that they will be used to break the law.The reality is that the spread of the drug trade through a community is very often aided and abetted by sleazy "head shops" on downtown street corners (or increasingly on a kid's computer screen). In addition to providing the means for consuming drugs, head shops may provide the names of sellers and information about how much to pay for drugs. The impact is to familiarize kids with what to expect when they try drugs, and to send the corrosive message that drug use is acceptable, even expected, of young people. Effective laws against this dangerous trade are already on the books. Citizens lobbied Congress and the president successfully for a federal paraphernalia law in 1986; corresponding laws in 48 states soon followed. But for too long these laws were not adequately enforced. That neglect is now over. Starting in Pittsburgh, with Operations "Pipedreams" and "Headhunter," local law enforcement officers and their federal counterparts are taking action to close down and prosecute those whose practices undermine our youth and our communities. Our efforts have expanded nationwide.While enforcing the law, we are taking care that legitimate businesses are not harmed by our efforts. But it is revealing to note that numerous pro-drug publications and drug-promoting Web sites -- which are among the most vocal opponents of our efforts -- receive substantial revenue from drug paraphernalia advertising. A number of these publications and Web sites want to legalize drugs outright. They have a right to free expression. They do not have a right to funding that supports criminal activity.Allowing drug paraphernalia businesses to operate not only hurts individual lives, it also lowers community standards. Paraphernalia shops directly foster a culture of drug use among kids, making it look fun, attractive, safe and an accepted part of young people's lives. These shops sell a dangerous lie and the equipment for addiction to our children. We reveal that lie and that crime for what it is by enforcing our national and state paraphernalia laws. Complete Title: Why We Must Attack The Drug-Paraphernalia Trade: It Enables Drug Abuse Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)Author: John P. Walters Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2003Copyright: 2003 PG PublishingContact: letters post-gazette.comWebsite: http://www.post-gazette.com/Related Articles:Drug Czar Calls Marijuana Bill Immoral http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15791.shtmlDrug Czar to Educate Parents About Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15683.shtml Monitor Breakfast: John P. Walters http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12220.shtmlCannabisNews Paraphernalia Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/paraphernalia.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by John Tyler on March 28, 2003 at 10:07:08 PT alcohol paraphernalia from yesteryear Sometimes when I go to antique auctions there will be rare and beautiful piece of furniture from the 1920's (the Age of Prohibition). It is designed to look like a credenza or other nice piece of cabinetry, but when it is opened up it is a cleverly hidded piece of alcohol paraphernalia, complete with room for glasses, bottles of whiskey, other tools for mixing illegal cocktails. So on Saturday night you could party with friends, but when church people came over on Sunday the credenza would be closed up and no one would notice. How is this different from the situation we have today? Will people at future antique auctions snicker at how stupid our gov. policies are today when a rare pipe of hooka comes up for sale? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on March 28, 2003 at 08:02:31 PT comments As usual I really enjoy reading these thoughtful comments. JR, great one - I like how you slipped in the "Dirty Dozen" angle - a nice appeal to "tough guy" politicians! The whole idea of incarceration as punishment is a fairly modern phenomenon. For most of human history, punishment consisted of a single act of retribution for the victims. The cruelty of the modern penal system lies in the gradual destruction of a person's life force over time, much more acceptable to the suburbun elite. They're so easily offended they sue each other over a neighbor's kid bouncing a basketball - they like the nastiness of society hidden away somewhere. The government thugs and brutes can do what they want, as long as the distasteful business is kept hidden away, far from their McMansions...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by pokesmotter on March 28, 2003 at 07:44:06 PT: come on walters "Let's face it; a lipstick dispenser that holds a hidden crack pipe simply has no other purpose than to facilitate drug use."well no kidding. i have never seen a head shop sell anything like this and i am glad; i am glad the only pipes i see are (presumably) for weed."head shops may provide the names of sellers and information about how much to pay for drugs."i think someone who is going to buy a pipe already knows how to get their hands on "drugs." [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Lehder on March 28, 2003 at 07:22:48 PT conspiring to do an activity "(2) A person commits the crime of terrorism if the person conspires to do any of the activities described in subsection (1) of this section."http://162.42.211.226/article2442.htmSo blocking off the road - protesting - now constitutes the crime of "terrorism" in the state of Oregon, punishable by life in prison.Now an educated person would simply have written, "A person commits the crime of terrorism if the person conspires to:a) grow long hairb) express displeasurec) enter into controversy"Such awkward English, and all the more troublesome that it should be written into formal law. You know the brains behind the law cannot amount to much.Here http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdfon page two, in the first sentence of the Statement of Principles, upon first opening its yap, the Project for the New American Century - the organization that brings us the war in Iraq and the USA PATRIOT Act - we learn that "As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's most preeminent power." Now, it would of course be futile to explain to the authors that "preeminent" is already a superlative, but, also uselessly, I'll point out to them that sensible people are turned off, and none of them cares to continue through the ensuing ninety pages of drivel about world domination.Nor will I enter into discussion of Bushisms like "Is our children learning yet?" I'm just going to say that, George, you and all your followers are just plain fuckin' dumb. And I am absolutely Against you, against stupidity and against the promotion of ignorance.We have a system that rewards stupidity and promotes the ignorant. The more aggressive and threatening the stupidity, the greater the power and the higher the pay endowed upon its pusher. The U.S. is at this moment demonstrating that it is not the world's preeminent power, but really just a very puffed up buffoon about to burst. The war on drugs, America's stupidest war of all, will end only when the entire power structure and its twin towers of stupidity and ignorance collapse of their own dead weight. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Kegan on March 28, 2003 at 04:05:24 PT: War everywhere After Ashcroft unleached Pipe Dreams, my accomplice Angharad was heard to comment "Gee... Iraq.... now glass pipes.... Bush and his guys must really hate sand!"The more they lie, the better we look.The people I really hate is a country full of people too stupid, obese, and opiated by TV to even take their own country off of these oil Barons.After the fiasco of the 2000 election... all bets are off. The innocent civilians deserve better than this... but "America" deserves everything it has coming.Canada is about as much "America" as anywhere else, so don't think I am getting all uppity, being a canadian and all..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on March 28, 2003 at 02:19:55 PT LTE Sirs, When drugs were made illegal, prices rose while purity dropped. Some people tried making them at home, occasionally with disastrous results. The drugs were not removed from society, but some civil rights were. This happened during alcohol prohibition. This is happening under the War on Some Drugs. And now John Walters is doing the same thing with items he considers "drug paraphernalia". His war on the counter-culture sounds more and more desperate to appear relevant in this post-9/11 world, but busting bongmakers isn't going to do it. If he really wants to make front-page headlines, he should announce an immediate cease-fire in the drug war. The federal government spends $20 billion on this war every year, money which is badly needed elsewhere. The states can take the $20 billion they've been spending to do with as they please; continue the drug-warfare at the state level, spend it on treatment, and/or legally regulate distribution. All federal drug prisoners would be released, and those with violent pasts could be drafted into the military. Many former drug enforcement agents would also enlist, or join the Homeland Security forces. We would have more freedom, more security, and less debt. Currently, John Walters is merely wasting valuable time and money, while making America's "drug problem" worse, not better. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by aocp on March 27, 2003 at 22:08:52 PT local shop My local shop blows all their own stuff. It's beautiful stuff, too. Leave 'em alone, feds. They go above and beyond the age id requirements to please you. Leave them alone. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Robbie on March 27, 2003 at 20:00:02 PT With all due respect John BLAH BLAH BLAH! There's a war on!Actually, I take back the respect. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on March 27, 2003 at 19:53:33 PT: Why We Must Attack Prohibition. During Alcohol Prohibition: "The alcohol trade is an ugly business that keeps its face hidden. Trafficking alcohol is illegal, and no community can thrive if it treats that trade as acceptable. We now know that if a neighborhood looks the other way, the alcohol trade expands and traps more young people in addiction. We know we must fight back against the alcohol pushers, and displace them from any corner where they set up shop."Yes, we tried this during the "Dirty Thirties" until the US Congress and the states became so tired of the gang violence and corruption that they repealed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and let each state and local community make its own decision. The black market was crushed. The gang warfare was greatly reduced. Most Americans embraced the motto, Drink Responsibly. Some people abuse alcohol, but it is treated as a medical treatment problem, unless the rights and freedoms of others are encroached, as in Drunk Driving or Wife/Child Abuse.Prohibition II, AKA the War on Drugs, or the War on Some Plants, attempts to use interdiction and incarceration to eliminate the use of cannabis from the US population. Predictably, there is a rise in the black market with gang warfare and drive-by shootings, not to mention an enormous prison population. The states became so tired of the gang violence and corruption and the enormous costs of policing, trials, and incarceration that they passed decriminalization, treatment option, and compassionate use legislation to let each state and local community make its own decision. The historical medical powers of cannabis, which were mistakenly denied by fiat of the US Congress in 1970, were rediscovered and the word spread through the grass roots like wildfire. To be continued...ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on March 27, 2003 at 19:47:08 PT Lair, Lair!! Your pants on fire!! Johnny stop lying....Dear Johnny, I hate to inform you that you have been babbling like a crazy fool. I only wish that you are harmless. You are downright dangerous to all living breathing human beings.ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on March 27, 2003 at 19:16:09 PT Pee Walters is too much I can just see this guy in a Pilgrim hat setting fire to the "witches" in Salem Mass. long ago feeling so good about himself. John, get a grip, we are good people. We have families. We go to work. We pay lots and lots of taxes. We just like to do different things than you. Why do you persecute us? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment