PIPE SELLERS DON'T DESERVE SUPPORT

This letter is a response to Jeremy Badger's comments regarding the
sale of pipes for illegal drug use (Don't pick on pipe sales. Progress
Mailbag July 13).

The fact that you are asked for ID when buying cigarettes tells me
that you are likely under 25 years of age and are probably not a
parent. It seems your bias views are derived from your inability to
put yourself in the shoes of mature, responsible and innocent people.
Your lack of life experience may be another contributing factor. You
obviously have not done the research to quantify the health risks from
smoking pot. And you're right, that's another debate. A debate
perpetuated by two sides; one side who refuses to look at all relevant
research on the subject and the other side who bases its argument on
scientifically sound rationale.

Seriously, inhaling thick, acrid smoke into organs that are designed
to take in clean air? If we were designed to inhale harmful pot smoke
then I'm sure our lungs would have a filtering system, or lung tissue
would have evolved to accommodate the stupidity of the human race.

Unfortunately neither is the case, thus society as a whole continues
to pay dearly.

Now getting back to your reasons for advocating pipe sales. I don't
disagree that the owners of the store may be law-abiding citizens,
however they are promoting lawlessness through their choice to enable
and exploit addicts in our community. I couldn't care less if you
smoked turtle dung in a banana for the good of your health. What kind
of drugs you smoke and how you smoke them bares no relevance to your
argument. An assortment of pipes is not what I want to see when I
patronize a corner store to buy a jug of milk. My children already
witness the moral degradation illegal drugs have imposed on our community.

Moreover, it is obvious that addicts are valued customers of this
establishment, otherwise the owners wouldn't even consider "making a
living" off of drug paraphernalia. And we read all too often the
violent, criminal actions fuelled by addiction, so why would I
knowingly put myself at risk as I run in to grab a jug of milk or use
the ATM?

I'm not trying to make this a moral debate, just one based on safety,
the law and the downward trajectory of addiction. Or to put it
simply... common sense. Why let hindsight be our guide?