The Blunt Ban
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 11:18 AM

A friend of Vice Squad writes in to let us know that the Bluegrass State refuses to be left behind in the race to ban the alcohol vaporizer. But he also brings to our attention the ridiculously sweeping anti-paraphernalia law that recently went into effect in Philadelphia. Nicknamed the "Blunt Ban," the ordinance bans the sale by convenience stores of tobacco-related products that could also be used for consuming some illegal drug apparently called "marijuana" (perhaps it's a Philly thing, like cheese steaks). The ban, adopted unanimously by the Solons of the City Council in December, covers cigarette papers, blunts, cigars sold singly, and matches. (OK, I made up the matches part.)

Vice Squad has noted in the past the impetus for such farsighted legislation. Once a substance is deemed to be evil, then there is no obvious stopping point in measures taken to combat it. Those who use the evil substance can be imprisoned. Those who fail to inform on those who use the evil substance can be imprisoned. Those who sell goods that can be used to consume the evil substance can be imprisoned....

Labels: inhaler, marijuana, paraphernalia, vaporizer

 
More Sensible Anti-Drug Arrests
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 5:48 PM

As Vice Squad has noted before, once you declare a substance to be evil, there are essentially no limits to what steps you should take to suppress the offending material. Arrest folks who happen to possess the substance. Burst into people's homes to search for the substance. Mandate tests to generate evidence that people have used the substance, and arrest people who sell goods that can be used to confound the results of those tests. And today, Last One Speaks brings word of the latest clever law enforcement ploy, this one aimed at goods that are used in combination with an evil substance. Of course, goods whose primary use is to consume an evil substance have long been suppressed, but law enforcement is now expanding the notion of dual-use technology. The target: fake roses in glass pipes and scrubbing pads.

I wonder how the clerks arrested for selling the roses feel about the seeming immunity of Urban Outfitters? Co-blogger Nikkie uncovered their paraphernalia sales back in October, though since then, the complementary product has had its price reduced -- perhaps in response to Nikkie's complaint at the end of the October post?

Labels: arrests, paraphernalia

 
Unconventional Electricity Usage, Trash Handling Leads to Search
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 4:16 PM

Drug WarRant has been detailing (here on March 28, and here on March 31) a California case where a search warrant to look for illegal drugs was obtained thanks to high electricity bills and -- wait for it..... -- the fact that the householders did not take their trash out the night before pick-up. Rather, they delayed until the morning of pick-up! Probable cause that they are running a marijuana grow operation? Well, heck, it's airtight, practically beyond a reasonable doubt. A friend of Vice Squad e-mailed about the story, and included the following snippet from the search warrant:

"During the last two weeks, I have conducted surveillance of the residence and
adjacent residences in the neighborhood, to monitor trash dispensing
practices. I noticed that several of the occupants of adjacent homes in the
neighborhood placed their residential trash receptacles on the curb the night
before the regularly scheduled trash pick-up day... This was not the practice
of the occupants of 7021 Ivy Street... I noticed that the trash receptacles
from this address were not placed on the curb for pick-up until Thursday
mornings [trash pick-up day] after 7:00 AM. It has been my experience that
some narcotics offenders know law enforcement practice of investigation and
that retrieving evidence from a narcotics offender's trash receptacle is an
investigative tool that investigators use. Narcotics offenders who discard
evidence into their trash receptacles and then place their receptacles at the
curb for pick-up for an extended period of time, run the risk of being
discovered by law enforcement."

My correspondent's response: "I had no idea that taking the trash out on trash pick-up day was such a suspect activity. Furthermore, I am amazed that police officers have the time to conduct a two week surveillance operation to monitor 'trash dispensing practices.'"

The search warrant also has some wonderful pieces that border on self-parody: "I wish to search...for the following contraband to wit: controlled substances, including but not limited to marijuana, also known as "Weed", "grass", "the Devil's weed" and "Smoke" including loose marijuana, kilos of marijuana, baggies of marijuana, marijuana cigarettes, marijuana seeds, derivatives of marijuana, marijuana plants, articles and effects used in the cultivation of marijuana, paraphernalia used for packaging, sales, and consumption of marijuana; including but not limited to folded papers, paper bindles, clear plastic and cellophane bags and envelopes, scales, odor masking agents; and fingerprints, handwriting, papers, firearms, written articles pertaining to drugs, narcotics and the use of same..."

I am glad they capitalized "Weed".

The search found nothing, of course, though I can't believe the family didn't have some folded papers lying about. And now written articles pertaining to drugs are a problem? Better search here.

Labels: marijuana, paraphernalia, search

 
While Tommy Chong Sits in Jail
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 8:36 AM

Vice Squad friend Nikkie Eitmann stumbled across a catalog
for Urban Outfitters, only to discover an entry for
"Mary Jane's Sticky Brownie Mix." You can find it online at
the Urban Outfitters website, if you search on "brownie mix".
Both the online and non-virtual entries have a photo of
the box, which includes renderings of marijuana leaves.
Here's the description from the website:

mary janes brownie mix
get baked in 20 minutes - complete with recipe book,
pot leaf-shaped cookie cutter, and brownie mix to
sweeten up your 4:20
*note - does not actually contain any illegal substances
$ 12.00


That's right, folks, a pot leaf-shaped cookie cutter. Incidentally,
it appears that Urban Outfitters targets its merchandise at trendy
types in their late teens and early 20s.

Ms. Eitmann goes on to make a few points, some of which I reproduce
below, in condensed form...

(1) "It's also interesting that items associated with drug
culture (beaded curtains, lava lamps,..., etc.) have been
sold in [mainstream] stores like this for years, and everyone
kind of knew what was being implied, but it was 'wink wink,
isn't this cool, we won't say why, 'cause you know.' Now, it's
just right out there, 'Hey man, if you like getting high, you
should buy this product.' It's like society on some level has
recognized that there are a lot of people getting high out there,
but that doesn't translate into more sensible drug policies or
even to more sensible opinions on drug policies..."

(2) "People maybe think [that the brownie mix is] cool and
cute, which is also fine, but if people think that, why are we
incarcerating our citizens for using [pot]?"

(3) Are the customers of Urban Outfitters so out of it that
they will pay $12 for brownie mix? "They are giving stoners
a bad name."

Labels: marijuana, marketing, paraphernalia

 
Pyrrhus Watch: Victory #11
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 6:53 PM

Friend of Vice Squad Alan Calder sends along this link to a National Review Online article on Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong fame) and the war on drugs. The article's concluding line: "An honest, national debate on the war on drugs in general -- and its uniquely idiotic marijuanaphobia in particular -- would be a welcome development in the sad history of this national fiasco."

Pete Guither at the indispensable Drug WarRant has Tommy Chong's address; click on the "Tommy Chong" link to find out more from Drug WarRant about the massive law enforcement operation that, by corralling the notorious Mr. Chong, has secured victory in the War on Drugs. No longer need we fear that some of our friends and neighbors might smoke their marijuana using illegally-marketed paraphernalia.

Labels: arrests, Drug WarRant, marijuana, paraphernalia