TOBACCO SMOKING DEVICES

The raiding of the three stores in Pocatello regarding the crackdown on the
sale of "drug paraphernalia" is not justified and should result in some
consequences to all agencies involved.

The sale of legal tobacco smoking devices is not a crime and should not be
treated as such, regardless of what some people may use these for. There
are many legal things used as drug paraphernalia, such as light bulbs, tin
foil, pop cans, rolling papers, and many other things. But we do not see
law enforcement agencies raiding stores which sell these products, and
arresting owners and employees.

Furthermore, the terms used to describe these devices, such as "bong," etc.
is arbitrary. The use of such objects is not determined by what it is
called. Calling a water pipe, which is intended for smoking tobacco, a
"bong" does not make it an illegal device used for smoking marijuana.

These acts by law enforcement should be considered illegal, and need to
result in some appropriate changes in their policy, and the way they
interpret the law.

Jason Ainsworth,

Pocatello