THREE STORES GET 'WARNINGS' ON SMOKING GEAR

POTSDAM - A U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officer and members of the
St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force paid what was described as an
"educational" visit Friday to three village stores.

Officers visited Happy Daze, 8 Elm St., and The Wild Rose, 47 Market
St., to tell owners they could not sell smoking accessories.

The stores sell items such as hand-blown glass pipes and have signs
saying they are for tobacco use only. There were no arrest and nothing
was seized.

The stores were open Monday but did not have any smoking accessories
for sale.

" They told me I couldn't be selling those things -- pretty much I
would be arrested if I didn't abide by the law," said Jayne E. Davis,
Wild Rose owner.

Sheriff Gary J. Jarvis said two of his officers assisted the DEA with
the "warnings," but he did not provide any more information.

Sheriff Jarvis said he did not know how many stores were visited and
referred all questions to the DEA.

Calls to DEA and assistant U.S. attorney's office in Albany were not
returned Monday.

Village police did not go with the officers bur knew they were
visiting the stores.

" What was happening was they went to three stores about selling
paraphernalia which could be used to use drugs. It's a federal
statute. It's actually illegal. There may be an exception for a
tobacconist," said village Police Chief John A. Kaplen.

Mr. Kaplan said he did not know the name of the third
store.

Ms. Davis has owned Wild Rose for seven years, and for five of those
years she sold glass pipes, she said. The store also sells clothing,
jewelry and figurines.

She wanted to know why her store was one of those singled out when
many others sell smoking accessories.

" If we thought it was anything illegal, we wouldn't do it. I just
want to know what the facts are. They need to make it clear," Ms. avis
said.

Neither Sheriff Jarvis or Chief Kaplan would comment on why there were
no arrest, saying it was a federal issue.

"It's paraphernalia in general. But it's ' What constitutes
paraphernalia?' It's "What do you use it for?' Here it's for tobacco
use," said Chris P. Perme, one of four Potsdam State University
Collage students who went to Happy Daze Monday to sign a petition
supporting the store owners.

Lyle Furnace, owner of Happy Daze, would not comment. His store also
sells tapestries and incense.

" I feel bad for him. It's his only source of income," said Allen P.
Baker, another Potsdam Collage student.

Chief Kaplan said the stops were to inform the owners that some of
their products were not legal.

" It was a mission to provide information to these particular store
owners," He said.