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MN Lawmakers Seek to Close Paraphernalia ‘Loophole’
Charley Shaw | St. Paul Legal Ledger | 01/17/06

Two Republican state senators want to tighten Minnesota's laws against drug paraphernalia sales. At a Capitol news conference last Thursday, state Sens. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, and Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, said they want to identify in statute the kinds of pipes and other items they say are only used for illegal drugs.

Koch said the proposal closes a "loophole" in the law. Currently, law enforcement can only arrest people who possess drug paraphernalia that contain drug residue or who sell drug paraphernalia to a minor. "It makes absolutely no sense to outlaw harmful drugs and yet allow the open sale of items that are clearly used for conducting illegal activity," Koch said. "Allowing this type of paraphernalia to be sold sends the wrong message."

Jungbauer said other states such as Wisconsin have similar law enforcement tools for cracking down on drug paraphernalia sales. He said the legislation won't affect pipes used for legal products such as tobacco. "It's for drugs and drug use," Jungbauer said of the items that are outlawed in the measure.

During the event, law enforcement officials displayed several types of drug paraphernalia on a table, including water bongs and marijuana pipes that look like cigarettes. "Having this legislation will enable us to act consistently with our efforts to curb and curtail illegal drug use. It makes no sense to outlaw marijuana and not the pipes that it's smoked in," said Buffalo Police Chief Mitchell Weinzetl.

Koch and Jungbauer are collaborating with the Minnesota Police Chief's Association, the Minnesota Sheriff's Association and the Wright County Attorney's Office on the proposed legislation.

The bill will delete existing language in statute relating to selling drug paraphernalia that Koch said is ambiguous. It will also provide a specific list of items that can't be sold. Koch said the final list of items isn't yet available. The Minnesota Legislature convenes March 1.

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nacrypt

Ha ha! I got a message for ya: "Let's go smoke a fat spliff!"

Really... people use bongs for drugs? I always thought they were fancy vaces.

Good luck... 50+ years of marijuana prohibition and people still huff the herb!

Actually, it makes no sense to outlaw marijuana but try telling that to this porker!

Tokamak

Outlawing bongs and pipes that are obviously not for tobacco use is futile. My first bong was made using a gatorade bottle, a lighter, a pair of scissors, and a plastic straw. It took 5 minutes to cobble together; it was crude, it leaked a bit, but it worked just fine.
Furthermore, after I finish writing this, I'm gonna go use an apple in a similarly illegal manner.
My point is that pot will be smoked, high quality glassware or no. All antiparaphernalia laws really do is make pot smokers practices our arts'n'crafts skills a bit more.

Peace.

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Buzzby

It's not about people having pipes. It's about sending a message: "Marijuana is evil. We will protect your children from this evil drug by not allowing pipes to be sold in stores."

The fact that you don't need to buy a pipe to smoke is irrelevant to the public relations value to the politicians of passing an anti-drug law.

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fight4rights

This is definitly a big deal. This would be a step in the wrong direction for the legalization movement.

Besides, don't you love beautiful glass pieces?

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