Operation Pipecleaner in NC (War on Bongs)

Raleigh News & Observer ^ | 03/01/04 | Craig Jarvis

[Phantom Lord]

Local retailers raided

RALEIGH -- Law enforcement officers this morning announced a crackdown on stores that sell pipes and other products the government considers drug paraphernalia.

Officers raided four stores in the Triangle and two in Wilmington on Thursday and seized possible drug-related inventory, court records authorities released Monday show.

Two of the stores - Buddha's Belly and Snap Dragons - are located across from N.C. State University. The other local stores were Rock 'N' Roll Outlet on Capital Boulevard and Rock 'N' Roll Village in Clayton.

U.S. Attorney Frank Whitney said the multi-agency investigation, called "Operation Pipecleaner," is aimed at letting people know the products are illegal and to deter the use of marijuana.

"We have to draw the line somewhere," said Whitney at a morning news conference. "Let's draw it at drug paraphernalia because it is so blatantly illegal."

Whitney said marijuana is much more powerful than it was 30 years ago, and in North Carolina it is now supplied by organized cartels from Mexico rather than homegrown

[Phantom Lord]

Thank God these dangerous criminals and their dangerous products are being taken out.

This is such a waste of law enforcement resources. And if they think for 1 second that the raids on these stores is going to prevent people from 1) smoking MJ, and 2) Getting these products, they are sadly mistaken.

Rolling papers, which are often used to smoke MJ are perfectly legal. Will they soon raid rolling paper sellers?

Algore III was caught with MJ in his car. They were smoking it out of an aluminim can. Will beer and soda empties soon need special processing and handling?

You can smoke MJ (and a variety of other drugs) out of just about anything.

I remember in college using a plastic pretzel barrell!

[Phantom Lord]

Do your thing.

[billorites]

"You can smoke MJ (and a variety of other drugs) out of just about anything."

Apples always worked and you could eat them afterwards.

[Phantom Lord]

Another story on the matter...

Feds Seize Drug Paraphernalia From Six Eastern N.C. Stores

(Raleigh-AP) -- The federal government is going after businesses that sell drug paraphernalia in eastern North Carolina.

U-S Attorney Frank Whitney announced today that agents searched six businesses in Wake and New Hanover counties last week and seized pipes, clips and other items used for taking drugs.

No charges have been filed related to the seizures, but Whitney says the investigation is ongoing. It's a federal felony to sell or market such paraphernalia.

The seizures are part of a new investigation called "Operation Pipecleaner," designed to reduced demand for drugs in the region, particularly marijuana.

Whitney says the type of marijuana sold now in the state has a higher concentration of its active ingredient compared to 30 years ago. It's also viewed as a "gateway" drug for teenagers on the way to more powerful narcotics.

As an addition to my above post, on my keychain I have a roach clip. My Mother In Law bought it for me. Its in the shape of a guitar, and it was bought for me and put on my keychain because I play guitar. I hope the cops don't see it if I am ever pulled over.

[Sir Gawain]

We will defeat Mother Nature and the laws of economics in one fell swoop!

[evets]

bong ping

[Skooz]

I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny!, you come to fight as freemen then freemen you are. What will you do without freedom, will you fight? . . . .fight and you will die, run and you will live, at least for a while. And dying in your bed, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day, till then for one chance, just one chance and tell our enemies that they can take our lives but they can never take our TOILET PAPER ROLLS!!!!!!

[Constitution Day]

Yep, that'll learn 'em. I bet they hit the straight and narrow now!

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[writer33]

"Whitney said marijuana is much more powerful than it was 30 years ago, and in North Carolina it is now supplied by organized cartels from Mexico rather than homegrown."

It ain't just coming from Mexico. And they're just now figuring this out. By the way, what's a roach clip? :O Ha!

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[nobody_knows]

I wonder if they'll the cardboard ban toilet paper rolls and tin foil too???

[nobody_knows]

I wonder if they'll ban the cardboard toilet paper rolls and tin foil too???

[Phantom Lord]

Regarding the strength of MJ here in NC. I moved here right out of college and would partake from time to time. The MJ down here was so weak and over priced that I quit. The stuff in NY was far more powerful and about half the price.

And while were on the subject, anyone remember a few weeks ago a complaint from a congressman that illegal drugs in WV cost MORE than in surrounding states?!?!? And an investigation should be undertaken to find out why!?!?!?

[Constitution Day]

This should be a fun thread. Too bad I need to get back to work. :(

[nobody_knows]

"I wonder if they'll the cardboard ban toilet paper rolls and tin foil too???"

Done smoked myself stupid!

[NativeNewYorker]

Apples always worked and you could eat them afterwards.

Oy!

I was JUST ABOUT TO POST THIS.

[BrooklynGOP]

I just got this baby from Beirut, Lebanon, today. Gonna try it out when I get home.

[dakine]

We used the empty roll from TP, little foil, voila! pipe...

[dakine]

post to self: read farther along...

[CheezyD]

Wow, I know I feel safer. :\