KINGSVILLE WANTS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA HIDDEN

KINGSVILLE, Ont. -- Kingsville council is saying no to drug paraphernalia.

Councillors are on a campaign to get crack pipes and marijuana bongs
off the store shelves next to candy, and will lobby the province to
have the items hidden like cigarettes. The resolution was passed
unanimously Monday.

Coun. Bob Peterson said the Ontario government either has to do a
better job of policing the sale of the drug paraphernalia or get them
out of view.

"If they're going to treat it like a package of tobacco, then put it
behind closed doors so at least kids coming in there to buy candy or
whatever else -they won't be at least seeing hash pipes," Peterson said.

Said Coun. Ron Colasanti: "It's sin. It's a damn sin."

Council considered creating its own bylaw that would prohibit the
sale of any instrument for illicit drug use but decided that likely
wouldn't work.

The sale of drug paraphernalia is already prohibited under the
Criminal Code but it is a difficult charge to prove, said Ruth
Orton-Pert, director of corporate services.

The sellers can say the glass pipes are used for tobacco or something
else that is not illegal.

"They (the pipes) don't jump out and say 'I am for smoking crack
cocaine,'" she told council after passing around glass pipes she
purchased at a local convenience store.

It wasn't illegal for her to buy them or have them. She had four
different pipes to show council what were being sold at a local
convenience store.

Orton-Pert, who is a lawyer, cautioned council that if it proceeded
with a bylaw, the prosecution would be difficult.

The issue came up last year when a grandfather told Coun. Gord Queen
about a convenience store about a block from elementary school St.
John de Brebeuf where the glass pipes are being sold next to candy.

"If you didn't have it right at eye level -the kids when they walked
into the store and have it right above the candy counter -it wouldn't
be such an issue," Queen said. "You hide the cigarettes behind the
metal flaps, the doors, but you put this out in front of them. I
don't like it."

Queen suggested sending the issue to the police services board and
the BIA in addition to Peterson's motion that would ask other
municipalities to join Kingsville in lobbying the provincial
government. Both were passed unanimously.

Peterson said he's heard the pipes are a common sight at local
convenience stores.

The store council first heard about is the Super 7 Seven Food Store
on Main Street east about a block from St. JohndeBrebeuf school.

On Monday there were various glass pipes in a glass display above the
Gobstoppers and Twizzlers and more in a glass case at the front of the store.

The owner's son, who wouldn't give his name, came to the store Monday
afternoon after the store clerk was asked to call the owner.

"I don't have any comment on the matter except they're not illegal at
all," the man said outside the store.

"The use of it we don't condone," he said. "All we're giving is the
pipes, something to buy because it's cool, it's handmade."