STORES HAVE NO BUSINESS SELLING DRUG-USE GADGETS

No one expects store owners to pull everything from their shelves that
could potentially be used for an illegal activity, but some items obviously
cross the line as drug paraphernalia and should not be sold.

Pipe key chains that fit a rock of crack cocaine and other items that can
be converted easily to pipes should raise red flags among merchants,
especially when store owners risk fines and having the state yank their
liquor license by selling the items.

Yet this month alone, Flint police confiscated more than 50 of the
converted crack pipes, including two hollowed-out glass pens from arrested
prostitutes. They aren't quite buying store owners' claims that they
"didn't know" such items could be used for illegal purposes.

The head of the Michigan Retailers Association in Lansing isn't convinced
of their innocence either. The group's spokesman said good retailers know
what qualifies as drug paraphernalia.

Assuming for a moment, however, that these merchants were in the dark, they
should consider themselves educated now and act on that education.

They have a stake in this community, too. That means they have a
responsibility to discourage illegal drug use in their neighborhoods rather
than reap a profit from its spread.