"Operation Pipe Dreams" Is Obscene
Published February 25, 2003
I am mortified by the big paraphernalia bust - I didn't even know this was federal law. In this time of terror and rampant white collar crime, does the Justice Department really have nothing better to do? Three years in federal prison for selling bongs??? There goes another one of my money making schemes down the drain. Let me know if you're interested in my design.
- Federal law enforcement officials announced a major crackdown on purveyors of drug paraphernalia yesterday, indicting 55 people and 10 national distribution companies that have become multimillion-dollar businesses allegedly by using the Internet to sell items such as marijuana pipes and bongs.
Many of those indicted were arrested in simultaneous raids across the country, from Pennsylvania, where the investigation began, to California, where one raid involved a bong manufacturing firm associated with Tommy Chong, who lampooned the drug culture as part of the comedy team Cheech and Chong. The firm, Chong Glass, was not indicted.
In addition to raiding warehouses and head shops, federal agents led by the Drug Enforcement Administration disabled a dozen Web sites that allegedly marketed drug paraphernalia. Officials said yesterday's action shut down more than half the distribution of drug paraphernalia in the United States.
"With the advent of the Internet, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has exploded," said Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, who announced the indictments. He and other officials said the products, which include marijuana pipes hidden in lipstick tubes and markers, have in some cases been specifically marketed to young people.
"Quite simply, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge," Ashcroft said. "This illegal billion-dollar industry will no longer be ignored by law enforcement." [Washington Post]
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance has this to say:
- On Marijuana: "These new arrests indicate an increasing politicalization in the war on drugs, and especially the war on marijuana. It's remarkable at a time when more than 1/3 of Americans think marijuana should be legal to target those involved with marijuana. It's an absurd waste of resources. Their drug war is really a culture war that has nothing to do with creating a safer society. Referring to marijuana as a poison, when no one has ever died of a marijuana overdose, is absurd. It would be more logical — although I'm not suggesting this — to prosecute people who sell beer mugs because of the poison consumed in them."
On Money: "The government is spending millions of dollars in taxpayer money to incarcerate people who pose absolutely no threat to the health or well being of our society."
On America's unique stance on drugs: "These paraphernalia laws exist in no other advanced democracy. They're uniquely American. There is no evidence that these laws have any impact on reducing drug use whatsoever."
Our own Oliver Willis calls "bullshit" as well:
- The "Tijuana" model bong certainly represents a clear and present danger to our national security.
- "Operation Pipe Dreams" Is Obscene
- Published: February 25, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Internet
- Writer: Eric Olsen
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Comments on this articleComments
Dang! If I'm unable to purchase a bong at a local retail establishment, however shall I partake of smokey treats?
I've been suggesting to people since the day I left Missouri that this Ashcroft fellow is a snake in the grass... now literally.
hey they gonna have to outlaw coke cans and water bottles and big gatorades as well because we can make bongs out of them our president was a cocaine addict but hey pot is worse fuckin morons running this country like 1935 germany
So when the hell is all this going to be over?......would someone please tell me what the hell are we going to do about all this....fuck the Ashcroft and his ideas....the people run this country not that small dick fuck.....please tell me what can be done....befor i have to say hail bush everywere.
who the hell do these people think they are?? Glass blowing is a god damn art form, and a profession I myself, was thinking about taking up. Now these assholes have gone and shattered my fuckin' dreams, why can't they just leave us alone? Has weed ever killed anyone? NO. I say fuck them all, they will never stop me from indulging, even if they take my pipes, I'll find a way, "they can take our pipes, but they can never take our freedom" and hey..Ashcroft?? FUCK YOU FROM ALL OF US
Oh man that is WACK!!! I dont see how in good faith they can go and let beer still be legal and out low Pipes and shit like that. Beer and other alcohols have been TRUELY known to kill people both who drink it and due to the stupid fucks who drink and drive. I have never in my life know Merry to kill anyone...I DO NOT beleive any of them comershals I see on tv. So to all of you dumb fucks out there in congress...You are the stupid fucks that kill people by allowin this to continue.
Yes, this is a bunch of shit. While the Grass could possibly lead to someone's death (impaired judgement...driving is also impaired...at least it is with some people I know...), alcohol is so much more likely to kill people in the same situations. I don't see them trying to ban alcohol! Also, added possibilities that alcohol bring up; alcohol poisening. I've never heard of pot poisening...I wonder why?
the law system is as gay as it can get, "i'm one of the assholes in the government , i would rather waste my time trying to arrest innocent people that buy pipes, because i'm GUESSING they are trying to smoke something that we won't legalize because we can't put tax on it cuz we are money hungry bastards!!" Weed never killed anyone you dumb fucks!! all it ever did was help people relax and mellow out, you see drunks getting into fights and people on coke and all that other shit hurting people, weed fuckin mellows you out and makes you laugh and enjoy life. why do you government bastards think you know what's best for us... or is it that you just like to take away all our fun and kill our buzzes.. you just wait, oneday you are gunna piss off too many people and all the smokers in this county are gunna start a riot and bring down your system, WE OUT-NUMBER YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!!!
It's really stupid to keep cannabis illegal if anything alcohol should be illegal. Alcohol is a million times worse than cannabis. People get violent on alcohol among other things just the other day at my friends apartment a bunch of drunk kids beat the shit out of some random person they caught out in the parking lot cause they thought the person stole their reebok classics and they beat the shit out of him I'm talking aluminum baseball bats to the face and nobody high would go and do something like that. + the governments is loosing a 14.9 billion in revenue if cannabis would be made legal. and ashecroft and all those dumbasses cant see it there to worried about cannabis instead of going after real drugs like cocaine and heroine. I think their stupid and should pretty much go jump off a cliff for being so retarded. plus if it was made legal there would be less crime from it cause people wouldn't be worried about wheres my money ,I fronted you this shit and other crimes affiliated with dealing it the crimes would be wiped out b/c it would be so easy to get. And the US government going to canada to arrest Marc Emmery is the biggest bullshit i have ever heard of the canadian government should tell the US to fuck off and get the fuck out they have no buisness being there and why doesnt ashecroft go take some cocaine with Bush .
you can still by bongs everywhere I know 15 places in my city that still sell as you can see there is nothing the government can do and what a waste of our good tax money for schools, roads, teachers, etc... what a bunch of dumbasses nice try you pigs oink oink
All I have to say is what disrespect to George Washington and the founding fathers who grew cannabis. I bet they wouldn't even of fought for the country if they knew this kind of idiocy was going to take place.
If alcohol is a drug and its been legalized then why can't the government legalize marijuana?
Oh ya, one more thing. FUCK YOU ASHCROFT
I'm really bloweddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
This is all a bunch of bull honky. There have been clinical stuidies proving that marijuana can actually reduce things like brain tumors (not take away...reduce). It's also a big issue with this "One joint contains as much cancer causing tar as four cigarettes" thing....did they forget to mention that the reason ppl aren't popping up everywhere with marijuana cancer is because cannibis also contains the antibodies or whatever you would like to call them that stop that tar and other chemicals from causing cancer? Or did they forget to mention that little thing about millions of ppl dying every day from cigarettes or alcohol but there's no proven stories of people dying from marijuana? They actually have billboards counting up how many ppl die from cigarettes every day. When I see a marijuanan billboard that says anything close to that that is even remotely true...then maybe I'll change my tone. Until then, fuck off with all your government bullshit about marijauna killing people...have another drink you fucking morons.
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I can't rightfully say I am sane, but I think it sucks bong water!