D.C. bill limits sales of items related to drug use

The Washington Times ^ | 4-12-06 | Amy Doolittle

[JZelle]

The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would prevent vendors such as gas stations and liquor stores from buying and selling items that could enable illegal drug use. The proposed legislation, which amends drug-paraphernalia legislation passed in 1982, would make it illegal to sell cigarette rolling papers or cigar leaf wrappers in stores that make less than 5 percent of their revenue from the sale of tobacco. "There are some things that are normally only used for illegal drugs," said council member Phil Mendelson, an at-large Democrat who is running for re-election. "We want to make it illegal for users to buy those things."

[calex59]

This is a blatant attempt to curtail people who roll their own because they are not affected by the cig tax. What jerks!

[mysterio]

More failed war on some drugs madness.

[tfecw]

Naw, the idiots in dc really think it'll cut down on Drug use. More lunacy from the failed liberal experiment. I wonder how Marion Barry feels about this legislation.

[rhombus]

"I believe the bill will pass, but I expect that there will be considerable amendments to deal with the constitutional issues," he said. "You can't just lock people up because of some piece of property. ... We can't outlaw test tubes in the District of Columbia because we would probably have some very upset medical facilities, plus we could create a black market for some of those things."

Constitutional issues? Why should that bother anyone any more? But seriously, this is all quite silly. I've heard of "pipes" made out of toilet paper tubes and aluminum foil, automobile carburetors, baby bottles, and even Styrofoam cups. This is just more "feel-good" legislation and won't have any effect except to deprive a few small businesses of some revenue.

[Sax]

"would make it illegal to sell cigarette rolling papers or cigar leaf wrappers in stores that make less than 5 percent of their revenue from the sale of tobacco. 'There are some things that are normally only used for illegal drugs,'"

But you can just trot down to the tobacco shop in the same town and pick them up?! This is asinine, if the item itself isn't illegal, why are they making laws that simply make it a bit more inconvenient to pick it up. Do they think people are going to be unconvinced into giving up drugs?!

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Cottage industries coming right up. Fools all who think they can stop illegal drugs, so long as the demand is there, supply will fulfill the need.

Legalize the crap, make it cheap, let the idiots OD and clear out the human debris so inclined to self destruct.

[mlc9852]

People will stop buying rolling papers and just use a pipe. Works for me.:)

[xenophiles]

The bill also would make it the buyer or seller's responsibility to prove that the items will not be used for illegal drugs, instead of requiring the police to prove the particular item's illegal use.

Words fail me.

[tfecw]

"But you can just trot down to the tobacco shop in the same town and pick them up?! This is asinine, if the item itself isn't illegal, why are they making laws that simply make it a bit more inconvenient to pick it up. Do they think people are going to be unconvinced into giving up drugs?!"

Look for a bill next year to take down the names & addresses of the folks buying papers/wraps.

[gathersnomoss]

There goes my bathroom mirror project.

[gathersnomoss]

Big Bamboo. I knew I kept that album for some reason.

[JmyBryan]

Wait until they start taxing toilet paper, aluminum foil and scotch tape.

[Just another Joe]

Guilty till proven innocent.

All that is not specifically authorized is prohibited.

[rhombus]

Have no drug warriors yet stepped forward to defend this? Do we have to ping them?

[Bones75]

This is great new!

This means that, obviously, the police have already finished getting all the rapists and murderers and theives off the street and can now concentrate on....um.... rolling papers...

..right?

[jbenedic2]

What next?

Oh, I know!

Ban the selling of apples and those little honey-bear bottles...come on you all, you know what I'm talking about about!

[jbenedic2]

When cigarette rolling papers are outlawed, only outlaws...all hell, you know what I mean.

[Bones75]

"What next?

Oh, I know!

Ban the selling of apples and those little honey-bear bottles...come on you all, you know what I'm talking about about!"

OH yeah... (*wink wink*)

[lovecraft]

The bill also would make it the buyer or seller's responsibility to prove that the items will not be used for illegal drugs, instead of requiring the police to prove the particular item's illegal use.

Me too bro, me too. "But officer I'm on my way to the tobacco shop to pick up tobacco, I get the papers here cause they are cheaper!"