JonInMiddleGA
08-18-2005, 11:18 PM
Just wondering whether this is one of those "I'm the last to know" kinda things, or if this is something that most people here never heard before either.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/0805/19crack.html
Crack pipes obtained easily, and legally, at local stores
By LATEEF MUNGIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/19/05
If you have a couple of dollars and know the code, you can easily buy a crack pipe.
The seller isn't always a seedy head shop, or even a trendy boutique.
These crack pipes, disguised as flower holders, were bought at county convenience stores.
They can easily be bought in the same place you buy gas, beer or your children's milk — the corner convenience market in the burbs.
This week, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters bought five of the pipes in four different convenience stores. Surprisingly, police say the sale of the drug paraphernalia is perfectly legal in Georgia.
The code: Ask the cashier for "the glass." The clerk reaches under the counter and retrieves a 4-inch-long glass pipe with a little flower embedded inside.
The pipes have ignited controversy across the country from critics who claim that store owners are knowingly selling drug paraphernalia to junkies. The items have been outlawed in Michigan, Chicago and Milwaukee. But in some metro Atlanta counties, the sale of the pipes that are known by the street slang "the glass" or "rose tubes" may be a dirty little secret just coming to light.
"These store owners know what they are used for," said Danny McKirchy, founder of an organization called Help End Addiction with Love that lobbied to get the rose tubes outlawed in Chicago three years ago. "They throw the flower away. Put some kind of filter in it and smoke the crack."
There's no law against selling or purchasing the pipes in Georgia, authorities say. The only way they would be illegal under state law is if an officer found drug residue in it or could somehow prove that it was used for drugs. But just the sight of the item would get the interest of an officer, said Gwinnett police spokesman Darren Moloney.
"We are aware of the rose tubes," Moloney said. "They are not illegal by themselves but they are associated with drug use. Similar to a bong, if an officer saw one of those in plain sight during a traffic stop, we would start to ask a lot more questions."
DeKalb police also said they are aware of the sale of rose tubes at convenience stores.
In recent visits, reporters were able to purchase the pipes at convenience stores in four Gwinnett County cities. In some stores, the items were displayed in plain sight near the cash registers. In others, they were kept behind the register where customers could not see them.
Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, said he has heard complaints about the pipes but says vendors may not be aware of how they are used.
"A lot of times they are shocked when they learn it can be used in that way," said Lenard, whose Virginia-based association represents owners of about 70,000 American convenience stores. "Some really don't know, but it is hard to use that defense at the stores that keep it behind the counter."
At a Norcross-area Shell convenience store this week, a cashier reached behind a register and sold one of the pipes to a reporter for $3. When asked what the pipe was used for, the cashier referred questions to a manager.
"I don't know," said the manager, who said he only wanted to be identified as Tariq. "I just work here."
When asked why the items were kept behind the counter, the manager stammered: "We have had a problem with people stealing them. Also, we wanted to keep them away from young children. I am very busy. No more questions."
At another Shell-branded store near Lilburn, a display of the small glass tubes on the counter was nearly empty Thursday. The store is next to a day care center. Across the intersection is another day care.
When asked what the small tubes were for, the cashier, who would not identify himself, shrugged his shoulders and said, "They are roses in a glass tube."
When pressed, he allowed more. "I don't want to spell it out if I know," he said, picking up the phone and dialing the store's owner.
Store owner Phil Moloo said as far as he knew, the tubes were novelty items. He said customers see the display when they check out and think they are "just so cute." He said customers take them back to their families.
Moloo was surprised when a reporter explained how they are used.
"We don't have any idea of that," he said. He asked whether he was breaking the law by selling the tubes.
Moloo sells a basic tube and flower for $3.99. A fancier "Mystic vase" comes in a box for $5.99. The tube includes a red rose and a wooden accent piece that slips over the shaft. Both tubes have a bubbled end with a small hole that makes them look much like miniature marijuana pipes. The hole on the boxed vase is plugged with a rubber heart inscribed with the words, "I miss you."
Moloo said the community is not the kind of place one might find drug addicts, so he doubts they come in for the tubes. He added that they are not a high-selling item. But only three pipes remained in the 21-item carton at Moloo's store Thursday.
Ari Russell, executive director of a Gwinnett substance-abuse program, said the rose tube also can be used to smoke crystal methamphetamine.
"I am not surprised that they are selling this," Russell said. "I have gone into the local convenience stores and seen things that could be used as drug paraphernalia, such as rolling papers."
McKirchy, who runs an Illinois-based drug program, said he first became aware of the rose tubes when he found one in his son's bedroom. He then learned that his son was addicted to heroin. McKirchy also found that his son had purchased the pipe at a neighborhood gas station store.
McKirchy then began traveling around to gauge the scope of the problem.
"I went to seven suburban counties and were able to purchase them everywhere," said McKirchy. "At one store the clerk actually said, 'I did not think you were into drugs.' I went to the media and the police and we were able to get them banned."
Staff Writer Duane D. Stanford contributed to this report.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/0805/19crack.html
Crack pipes obtained easily, and legally, at local stores
By LATEEF MUNGIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/19/05
If you have a couple of dollars and know the code, you can easily buy a crack pipe.
The seller isn't always a seedy head shop, or even a trendy boutique.
These crack pipes, disguised as flower holders, were bought at county convenience stores.
They can easily be bought in the same place you buy gas, beer or your children's milk — the corner convenience market in the burbs.
This week, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters bought five of the pipes in four different convenience stores. Surprisingly, police say the sale of the drug paraphernalia is perfectly legal in Georgia.
The code: Ask the cashier for "the glass." The clerk reaches under the counter and retrieves a 4-inch-long glass pipe with a little flower embedded inside.
The pipes have ignited controversy across the country from critics who claim that store owners are knowingly selling drug paraphernalia to junkies. The items have been outlawed in Michigan, Chicago and Milwaukee. But in some metro Atlanta counties, the sale of the pipes that are known by the street slang "the glass" or "rose tubes" may be a dirty little secret just coming to light.
"These store owners know what they are used for," said Danny McKirchy, founder of an organization called Help End Addiction with Love that lobbied to get the rose tubes outlawed in Chicago three years ago. "They throw the flower away. Put some kind of filter in it and smoke the crack."
There's no law against selling or purchasing the pipes in Georgia, authorities say. The only way they would be illegal under state law is if an officer found drug residue in it or could somehow prove that it was used for drugs. But just the sight of the item would get the interest of an officer, said Gwinnett police spokesman Darren Moloney.
"We are aware of the rose tubes," Moloney said. "They are not illegal by themselves but they are associated with drug use. Similar to a bong, if an officer saw one of those in plain sight during a traffic stop, we would start to ask a lot more questions."
DeKalb police also said they are aware of the sale of rose tubes at convenience stores.
In recent visits, reporters were able to purchase the pipes at convenience stores in four Gwinnett County cities. In some stores, the items were displayed in plain sight near the cash registers. In others, they were kept behind the register where customers could not see them.
Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, said he has heard complaints about the pipes but says vendors may not be aware of how they are used.
"A lot of times they are shocked when they learn it can be used in that way," said Lenard, whose Virginia-based association represents owners of about 70,000 American convenience stores. "Some really don't know, but it is hard to use that defense at the stores that keep it behind the counter."
At a Norcross-area Shell convenience store this week, a cashier reached behind a register and sold one of the pipes to a reporter for $3. When asked what the pipe was used for, the cashier referred questions to a manager.
"I don't know," said the manager, who said he only wanted to be identified as Tariq. "I just work here."
When asked why the items were kept behind the counter, the manager stammered: "We have had a problem with people stealing them. Also, we wanted to keep them away from young children. I am very busy. No more questions."
At another Shell-branded store near Lilburn, a display of the small glass tubes on the counter was nearly empty Thursday. The store is next to a day care center. Across the intersection is another day care.
When asked what the small tubes were for, the cashier, who would not identify himself, shrugged his shoulders and said, "They are roses in a glass tube."
When pressed, he allowed more. "I don't want to spell it out if I know," he said, picking up the phone and dialing the store's owner.
Store owner Phil Moloo said as far as he knew, the tubes were novelty items. He said customers see the display when they check out and think they are "just so cute." He said customers take them back to their families.
Moloo was surprised when a reporter explained how they are used.
"We don't have any idea of that," he said. He asked whether he was breaking the law by selling the tubes.
Moloo sells a basic tube and flower for $3.99. A fancier "Mystic vase" comes in a box for $5.99. The tube includes a red rose and a wooden accent piece that slips over the shaft. Both tubes have a bubbled end with a small hole that makes them look much like miniature marijuana pipes. The hole on the boxed vase is plugged with a rubber heart inscribed with the words, "I miss you."
Moloo said the community is not the kind of place one might find drug addicts, so he doubts they come in for the tubes. He added that they are not a high-selling item. But only three pipes remained in the 21-item carton at Moloo's store Thursday.
Ari Russell, executive director of a Gwinnett substance-abuse program, said the rose tube also can be used to smoke crystal methamphetamine.
"I am not surprised that they are selling this," Russell said. "I have gone into the local convenience stores and seen things that could be used as drug paraphernalia, such as rolling papers."
McKirchy, who runs an Illinois-based drug program, said he first became aware of the rose tubes when he found one in his son's bedroom. He then learned that his son was addicted to heroin. McKirchy also found that his son had purchased the pipe at a neighborhood gas station store.
McKirchy then began traveling around to gauge the scope of the problem.
"I went to seven suburban counties and were able to purchase them everywhere," said McKirchy. "At one store the clerk actually said, 'I did not think you were into drugs.' I went to the media and the police and we were able to get them banned."
Staff Writer Duane D. Stanford contributed to this report.