MOVIE DRUGSTER TOMMY CHONG PLEADS GUILTY TO PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES

PITTSBURGH--Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in
Cheech and Chong movies, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to
conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia.

Chong also pleaded guilty on behalf of his business, Nice Dreams
Enterprises, which made a line of marijuana bongs and pipes.

Doing business as Chong Glass, Nice Dreams Enterprises sold glass pipes and
bongs that Chong acknowledged were used to smoke marijuana.

Chong's plea came after federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents
purchased his paraphernalia and had them shipped to an undercover business
in Beaver Falls. Agents also confiscated his company's paraphernalia during
raids of "head shops" in numerous states and confiscated "thousands of
marijuana bongs and pipes" in a raid of his Gardena, Calif., business.

The raids were part of a series by the DEA in which at least 55 people were
charged with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. Federal officials
said the investigation targeted the nation's biggest Internet distributors
of paraphernalia.

Chong is the first person to plead guilty in the raids, said U.S. Attorney
Mary Beth Buchanan. He waived his right to be indicted by a grand jury
immediately before pleading guilty.

Chong's attorneys said he was accepting responsibility, but noted he was
careful not to sell to minors.

"This isn't his work. His work is that of a comedian and satirist," said
attorney Richard G. Hirsch.

After the hearing, Chong said he did not use drugs. "I don't smoke; I quit,"
he said.

Chong, 64, was released on recognizance bail, but must undergo drug testing
and remain in the U.S. District Court jurisdiction of his Pacific Palisades
home except to travel for work and court appearances.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine
when he is sentenced Sept. 11. Federal guidelines call for six months to one
year incarceration, though Buchanan said the government would not make a
recommendation to U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

Hirsch said he would argue that Chong be allowed to serve any possible
incarceration at home.

The actor-comedian, who recently had a recurring role on Fox's "That '70s
Show," said he planned to return to what he's always done: speaking "the
truth" in his comedy routines. He was scheduled to appear in Florida on
Tuesday night.

Chong said he and Cheech Marin were back together and working on another
movie; the two have appeared together in several films, including "Up in
Smoke" and "Still Smokin'." His plea, he said, would be part of the new
film.

Chong was a director of Nice Dreams Enterprises, which he admitted conspired
to sell or offer for sale drug paraphernalia. Buchanan said Chong invested
more than $290,000 in the company.

The company can face a maximum fine of $500,000 and Buchanan said she will
seek a large enough fine to put it out of business. Chong must also
surrender the company's Internet domain name.

Hirsch and attorney Stanton D. Levenson said many people were unaware that
selling such pipes and similar items was illegal. They were also unaware of
the federal government having prosecuted anyone under paraphernalia laws,
though they said states do prosecute.

Buchanan said the federal prosecutions were the first in a decade.

On The Net:

Tommy Chong: http://www.tommychong.com/