COUNCILLOR WANTS BONGS GONE

Molly's Mini-Mart Under Fire From Angry Residents

Strathcona County Coun. Jason Gariepy said he and fellow councillors
are going to "explore some options" to keep businesses that sell drug
paraphernalia out of the municipality.

The first-term councillor said the county was successful in keeping
casinos out of the community, so it should be able to keep stores that
sell pipes and bongs out as well.

"I don't want to see drug paraphernalia here. Maybe it's acceptable on
Whyte Avenue (in Edmonton) but not in Sherwood Park," he said.

The councillor said the province should be taking the same stance with
drug paraphernalia that it took with tobacco products.

"It should have the same restrictions," Gariepy said, noting tobacco
products are now covered up in stores, so people can't see the
products being displayed.

Last week, Gariepy wrote a column for the News which blasted an
unnamed local convenience store selling these items.

After the column was published, Molly Willis, co-owner of Molly's
Mini-Mart on Brentwood Boulevard was bombarded with angry residents
who screamed at her and threatened her, she said.

"I'm very upset a council member would do something like this," she
said.

"They should promote small business rather than drive them
out."

Willis said the equipment she sells is sold to be used for tobacco,
but knows that once she sells the product, it's not up to her what
it's used for. She said she doesn't sell pipes that are specifically
used for smoking crystal meth. Willis said she is also very strict
with asking for ID when selling the pipes.

The store owner said she is considering putting up dividers in the
store so that kids can't see the items, but she doesn't want to be
"bullied into it." "If the vigilantes stop, I might do it. But I'm not
going to be forced into doing it by screaming people."

Most of her customers who buy the pipes and bongs are over 30 years
old, she said.

Gariepy said he used to visit the store frequently, which is just
across the street from County Hall, but now he will buy his slurpies
and ice cream elsewhere.

In November, residents became outraged at The Den, a store in the
Sherwood Park Mall that sold similar drug paraphernalia. Mall
administration decided not to renew the store's lease, which is up
this month, as the store had been asked by the mall to stop selling
the products.

Const. Wally Henry, media liaison with the Strathcona County RCMP,
said unless residue is found from drug use, there is nothing illegal
about the pipes because they are intended for tobacco. There is also
no legal age restriction for buying the pipes.

Willis said she invited both the local RCMP and officers from the
Edmonton Police Service in the store to ensure what she was selling
was legal.