NEIGHBORS MARCH AGAINST SMOKE SHOP

SAN DIEGO - About 110 people marched and rallied Saturday against a
newly opened smoke shop in Central San Diego that they contend sells
drug paraphernalia, an organizer said.

A number of groups, including Black Men United and the Urban League,
participated in the protest against the ABC Smoke Shop at 4101 Market St.

No trouble was reported.

According to organizer Cleo Malone, opponents of the shop want it to
close or at least to stop selling what he called the "tools" of drug
use, such as rolling papers, pipes and bongs.

"We don't want merchants selling drug paraphernalia to our children,"
Malone said.

In a flyer circulated within the community by organizers, the store
is accused of "illegal sales of drug paraphernalia."

ABC store Manager Steve Kassab said the store opened two months ago
with permission from the city and there is nothing illegal about it.

"Their accusations are completely false," Kassab said.

"I sell a lot of tobacco products," Kassab said.