DRUG PARAPHERNALIA TARGETED

The four pillars approach may be a vital tool in battling drug
addiction, but along with prevention, treatment, harm reduction
sometimes a community needs to build on its fourth pillar -
enforcement.

The District of Hope recently amended its 'Business Licence Bylaw'
making it illegal for any business to display drug paraphernalia on a
street, window or elsewhere it can been seen from outside of its
premises. It is also illegal to sell drug paraphernalia to any person
less than 19 years of age.

A municipality does not have the power to ban the sale of a product
within its boundaries.

But within its powers council's action in amending its own business
bylaw sends a message to the business community, the public and youth
that drug use is not "condoned by the community," says CAO Brian Woodward.

Numerous members of the public have spotted displays of steel wool in
small plastic bags or glass pipes disguised as mini-vases on
countertops all "used as a cheep, effective and efficient way to smoke
various chemicals."

Many members of the public are also questioning why BC provincial laws
now require the same stores to cover up their cigarettes but not drug
paraphernalia, allowing Mom and Pop businesses to "profit from our
sick, and prey upon our healthy."

On the local level the district also faces a difficult task in
proving, for example, that a small glass pipe with a paper-like flower
inside is actually drug paraphernalia and not decoration.

Woodward recommends, however, that the public still contact the
District Hall if they have a concern over the display of drug
paraphernalia within the District of Hope.

The first step in enforcing the bylaw is a visit to the business by
the bylaw enforcement officer who will ensure that the business owner
is aware of the bylaw. The business owner will then be given an
opportunity to remove the product from view from the outside of his
premises. If the bylaw is not complied with the business owner could
be facing a fine or court action, adds Woodward.