ROCKER DOGS PIPE SELLERS

While it's not against the law for corner stores to sell drug
paraphernalia, Bob King Stierle is waging war against dealers.

The 40-year Whalley resident first became aware of the trend about
three months ago when his sister pointed it out to him. He went to see
for himself and discovered many convenience stores in the area have
displays of bongs, crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia for sale,
usually right beside the penny candy popular with kids.

"Without realizing it, they've shown up everywhere," he said. "It's
not about the drugs," said King Stierle, a punk rocker and band roadie
who is no Pollyanna about the drug scene or its effects.

While it is legal to sell and possess new bongs, pipes or similar
things - usually termed novelty items - they can be seized by police
for evidence if they have drug residue on them.

The issue, said King Stierle, is really a social and moral one.

"I do not want my children to think drugs are OK because the corner
store is selling pipes," he said, noting that such displays only
normalize the reality of drug use. He said people can already go to
head shops for paraphernalia.

"I'd rather my children know I put up a fight on their behalf rather
than say, 'There's nothing I can do about it.'"

On Monday, King Stierle visited three stores with paraphernalia
displays.

At the first, Master Foods, just off 96th Avenue and 128th Street, he
told the owner he thinks it's wrong for stores to have drug
paraphernalia next to candy displays, pointing to the row of bulk
candies at the front of a display case of brightly-coloured bongs and
an assortment of crack pipes.

The owner protested that it's not illegal, to which King Stierle said,
"Neither is hard core porn." He reiterated his plea to remove the drug
paraphernalia because it's the "socially responsible thing to do." The
owner said his English was too poor to understand. King Stierle tried
again, pointing at the penny candy and bongs. The owner finally said
he would talk to his lawyer about it, but wouldn't commit to removing
the display.

In such cases, King Stierle said, he has about 30 local residents who
call store owners to tell them they too believe it is "socially
irresponsible and unacceptable" to have drug paraphernalia for sale
next to candies meant for youngsters. One of the local churches has a
large Korean-speaking congregation, and has offered to translate for
owners who plead a language barrier.

At the second location, Food Town, at 95th Avenue and 132nd Street,
the manager wasn't on site, but the paraphernalia display was still at
the front counter near fresh cut flowers. King Stierle gave his spiel
to a female employee who became upset and yelled that she can't do
anything about it. He promised to return to speak with the owner yet
again.

The third stop of King Stierle's tour was Roebuck Grocery at 13192
92nd Ave. Here King Stierle was delighted to find the store no longer
selling drug paraphernalia. He shook the clerk's hand and thanked her
in Korean.

King Stierle said this was the fifth of seven stores to remove the
displays at his and his group's request.