TOUGH SELL

Like so many laws, the initiative to ban the sale of drug
paraphernalia is a bad idea wrapped in good intentions.

Within days, the City of Surrey will debate a bylaw to ban the sale of
bongs, crack pipes and assorted gear used to consume drugs. White Rock
Coun. Catherine Ferguson is on a similar crusade.

The idea is commendable, and few can argue the merits. But the worth
of any resulting law must be questioned, along with the
ramifications.

It is already illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone younger than 19,
yet it's common practice. The law is tough to police, and harder to
enforce on a sector of the business community where profit margins can
be slim and fleeting.

Now, bylaw officers will have added to their work-a-day the
responsibility to pop into convenience stores to see what's on offer,
and likely make a discretionary ruling on what's illegal.

Is it the sensibilities of well-meaning civic officials that are
upset? Or is there a crime being committed? If it's drug paraphernalia
these councillors want purged, how about going after purveyors of
hydroponic equipment? Plastic bags are used to ship pot - let's have
done with them. Rolling papers? Verbotten. Lighters? Be damned!

Are they offended that the drug gear is sold up front? Coun. Ferguson
says her "jaw dropped" when she saw the bongs at an East Beach market.
What about the stuff sold in shops, restaurants and night clubs she's
not visited? See no evil...

Consider that, in New Brunswick, so offended were the puritans they've
banished all smoking material -- legal stuff, too -- to the realm of
out-of-sight, out-of-mind. No longer can smoking matter be displayed.
Shop keepers must stash cigs and such in drawers, behind blinds or
under counters.

Of course, that same province banned smoking in public places -
including outside. Now there's a place where police don't have enough
to do.

In Langley City, they have introduced a bylaw banning the sale of drug
gear - coupled with a new licensing requirement for existing business.

It will require vendors to hold and display a $1,000 license to sell
bongs and whatnot.

Now there's a city that understands free enterprise. If small business
owners want to prey on drug users, by gosh let's capitalize and make a
few bucks ourselves.

At least that way, businesses abetting the drug trade will pay some
price -- since conscience clearly isn't an issue.