NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT PIPE SALE

At least one local mom feels pipes and bongs shouldn't be sold near
schools, even though store owners insist they never sell to children
and police say the sales aren't breaking any laws.

As a mother of two elementary-age children, Kim Bradwell wasn't happy
when she found pipes, bongs, rolling papers and other items usually
associated with drug use in corner stores near schools.

"I'm not sure why they're selling them. They're only contributing to
our drug problem," Bradwell said of the stores' owners.

"They're all in neighbourhoods," she exclaimed, citing Tempo Gas,
Mac's Convenience Store and Kim's Grocery as businesses selling
marijuana merchandise.

Kim's Grocery owner Steve Kim insists he won't sell anything to
children that could be considered drug-related.

"I have never sold (pipes or bongs) to kids," he insisted.

"I have kids too, so it's something I won't do."

Other store owners reiterated Kim's feelings, and at least one said he
wouldn't sell pipes at all if he didn't need the extra revenue to run
his business-which costs about $20,000 each month.

Cpl. Sean Sullivan said pipes-which are usually made of glass, wood,
stone or metal-and bongs (which use water to cool marijuana smoke)
aren't considered drug paraphernalia until they're used with an
illegal substance.

"Bongs aren't illegal, however, we are well aware of what they're used
for," Sullivan offered.

"Once they use them to smoke crack or marijuana it becomes drug
paraphernalia."

Bradwell has addressed her concerns to store owners and relies on
education to keep students informed about the devices she doesn't like.

"If children go into a store for a slurpee and they see these things
they're going to have questions. What we've done is we've written to
schools to let them know what's going on in their neighbourhoods."