Posted: 1/18/06
By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Water bongs, one-hitter pipes ñ the swirling and legal trappings of drug abuse ñ may disappear from headshop shelves if two local state senators have their way.
Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, and Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, are proposing legislation to outlaw different types of so-called drug paraphernalia.
ìObviously if you look at it (paraphernalia) it has a single use ñ itís for drugs and drugs only,î said Jungbauer.
Koch called the proposed legislation common sense, explaining it would close a ìglaring loopholeî in law pertaining to paraphernalia.
According to the lawmakers, itís currently legal for adults to buy paraphernalia in Minnesota. Police can only arrest those for possessing paraphernalia when coated with illegal drugs or sold to minors.
Buffalo Chief of Police Mitchell Weinzetl sees it as hypocritical for public officials to combat drug abuse while allowing for the sale of paraphernalia.
ìIt makes no sense to outlaw marijuana and not the pipes that itís smoked in,î he said.
Dr. Bill Pregaskis, a Wright county mental health professional and one of the presiding spirits behind the initiative, spoke of openly displayed and sold paraphernalia as sending the wrong message.
ìThis works against what weíre trying to do,î he said. It suggests drug abuse is normal behavior, Pregaskis explained.
The two senators at the Capitol press conference on Jan. 12 stood behind a table full of paraphernalia confiscated by police from suburban, small town and Greater Minnesota cities.
Selling price for the paraphernalia is relatively cheap, $10, $15.
Jungbauer believes the legislation has a good chance of becoming law. ìItís common sense,î he said.
Jungbauer noted that his family had been renting movies from a retailer that sold drug paraphernalia.
Minnesota, compared to neighboring states, is lenient in what it allows sold, he said.
The proposed legislation would make it a misdemeanor to sell or possess certain paraphernalia.
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