CHEAP PIPES FOR SALE

Drug Paraphernalia For Sale At Local Dollar Store Outrages
Woman

A city woman is outraged after she discovered cheap drug
paraphernalia for sale at a store across the street from a skateboard
park.

While her 13-year-old nephew spent Tuesday afternoon at Avenue
Skatepark at 118 Avenue and 90 Street, Natasha Dunphy, 19, went to a
dollar store across the street with her nephew's mother.

The women couldn't believe their eyes when they saw several different
types of glass pipes for sale at the counter.

"I thought it was disgusting. It makes it seem like they're
supporting drug use," said Dunphy.

An employee working at Canadian Dollar Store-Grocery said the pipes
are used for tobacco and are sold all along 118 Avenue.

But Dunphy said there's no mistaking the pipes for tobacco products.
The pipes are used to smoke marijuana, crack and meth, she said.

Police spokesman Jeff Wuite said this isn't the first time they've
had complaints about glass pipes being sold in convenience stores.

"Unfortunately, it's not illegal to sell them or else we'd be telling
them to stop," he said.

Wuite explained that police have a hard time prosecuting this kind of
thing because they can't prove the pipes are being sold for drug use.

"You could still smoke tobacco or just have it as a novelty or
something like that. In order for something to be classified as
paraphernalia, usually it means there's drug residue in it and of
course, with a brand new pipe that wouldn't be the case," he said.

"I don't think they should be allowed to sell them," said Dunphy,
adding that she's started a Facebook group to raise awareness about
the problem.

Wuite encouraged anyone who finds the pipes for sale to let police
know and to also express their disapproval to the store owner.

"Use your consumer power," he said.