 | NORML News: Uncle Sam’s war on bongs |
 NORML News Autumn 2003
At a time when the rest of the world is concerned with war in Iraq and terrorist attacks at home, the Bush regime has escalated its war on cannabis with the arrests of 55 people for the heinous crime of selling “drug paraphernalia” such as water bongs.
In Operation Pipe Dreams and Operation Headhunter the US Drug Enforcement Administration recently attacked pipe makers, website operators, and retailers throughout the United States.
Attorney general John Ashcroft, who is notorious for his attacks on civil liberties, said “The illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge.”
The government shut down 11 websites and visitors were redirected to a DEA webpage which allowed them to log visitors’ IP addresses and other information.
Eric Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, said the crackdown could do unintended damage to public health. “Sweeps like this are very likely to intimidate people who provide sterile needles as a public health measure. They’ll be afraid to be mistaken for illegal purveyors of paraphernalia.”
Among those raided by the DEA storm troopers was Tommy Chong’s Chong Glass factory and his home. Chong was not arrested. Many readers will remember the stoner comedy team of Cheech & Chong. In Up in Smoke, the film that made the pair famous, Chong plays a stoner on the run from a particularly uptight DEA agent.
• In New Zealand the Misuse of Drugs Paraphernalia Notice 1999 prohibits the sale of “cannabis utensils”, although these are so vaguely defined as to make prosecution difficult. No prosecutions have so far been successful, although a case involving Wellington importers Luke & Co is to be heard soon.
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