Should Tommy Chong be in Prison for selling bongs on the internet? - Page 2

[morninglark]

Unfortunately, it is not just Tommy Chong. It is all paraphenalia makers in CA. There was a big crack down a while ago. People's (meaning people who owned glass-blowing businesses that specialized in that sort of stuff) homes were raided at 6 am, by the Feds. Many people were put out of jobs because of it, and many of them live in depressed economies (like Humboldt county) where finding another good-paying job is quite difficult.

Tommy Chong is the only one who made the media, though, because he is famous. Otherwise, this would have been a wholly unreported action by the government. I knew about it months ago because my brother lives in Humbolt county and knows people who were effected.

The way I understand it, is that in Pennsylvania it is illegal to sell paraphenalia even if you use the disclaimer "for tobacco use only" (which is how head shops and the like get away with it), when selling over the internet, someone in PA can purchase a lovely pipe or bong and it is illegal, thus the whole thing about illegal sales accross state lines. If anyone knows more about the PA part of this I would like to know if it is true.

I am in favor of legalization, would settle for decriminalization, and think this is a huge set back for civil liberties in the US.

[Arduinna]

I heard about the crack down and arrests months ago too, and yes more were arrested than just him. I just recently heard about the sentancing though, hence this thread.

[mike]

this is why

The reason why its illegal for him to sell a bong is because bong is a drug term. If you call it a water pipe or a tabbaco assesory then it becomes legal. If you go into a store that sells these "tabbaco assesorys and say your looking for somthing to smoke pot in they legaly cant sell to you. Stupid stupid laws.

[applejuice]

NO, he should not.

Most of the students in my ceramics class in high school we making one. :

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by mike

If you call it a water pipe or a tabbaco assesory then it becomes legal.

That is not true, at least not everywhere. Plenty of local businesses here in central Florida were raided, and police even said that the items will be confiscated and businesses closed even if they're labeled as tobacco accessories or water pipes because they know that they're used for pot (how that's legal if they can't prove it is beyond me). There are even big signs up in the stores saying that if you even say the word "bong" in the store or mention pot that they will force you to leave, but that's not good enough for LE here. Lots of stores around here have been cleared out...it's bad, they're always (the ones here at least) are independently owned, mom-and-pop type stores. The ones we go to (we get lots of stuff at stores that sell pipes...clothes, decor, art, etc) always have really friendly, good people working there, it sucks that they've lost money.

[applejuice]

*

[Marsupialmom]

How about cigerrett rolling papers????????

[mamaofthreecats]

we have head shops here in town, and they aren't allowed to say the word bong, because bongs are illegal. they simply call them pipes---even if they really are some crazy five hundred dollar bongs.


no, he shouldn't go to prison. they're going to need to outlaw corn-cobs, hookas, and tobacc-ee first

ever heard of John Sinclair? It ain't fair John Sinclair Let him be Set him free?