In January, the city council of Parma passed a law prohibiting the sale of drug-related paraphernalia. Headshops and other businesses were no longer allowed to sell pipes, bongs, papers and other such items.
While it may be true that this paraphernalia is more often used for drugs than for legal tobacco, the law is assuming that no one takes lawful advantage of these items. This conclusion takes away a constitutional right for many people.
There is also the issue that children and teenagers are influenced by a wall of paraphernalia
which they are encouraged to buy. But when prohibition was passed forbidding the
sale of alcohol, it didn't stop many people from drinking. Someone can buy a Dr. Grabow for the same purpose as a now-illegal "drug-pipe."
Maybe there is no true solution to the drug problem. But when someone is told he
can't buy a certain item in a store, he'll probably buy it from someone on the street,
and it often is of less quality than that of a larger company. Also, forbidding
someone to purchase paraphernalia does not at all stop him from using the drug, which does
not necessarily need paraphernalia to be used anyway.
Children, teenagers and people of all ages are forced everyday to make decisions concerning
what is or is not for them. Why should the government sway them in this one area?
Parma thinks it is doing the right thing in passing the paraphernalia law. It is
definitely marked with good intentions. However, the road to Hell is paved with
good intentions.