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Newsbrief:
DEA
Busting
Pipe-Sellers
Again,
This
Time
They
Hit
Illinois
9/6/02
The federal bong police have
struck again, this time raiding two stores in Springfield, Illinois.
On August 15, DEA agents swooped into Traveling Treasures, a 15-year fixture
on West Jefferson Street, and Penny Lane on South MacArthur Boulevard.
The feds seized an estimated $35,000 to $40,000 in inventory from Traveling
Treasures, owner Art Campbell told the Springfield State Journal-Register.
"They took all our pipes,
saying it was drug paraphernalia," said Campbell. "I never knew I
was doing anything wrong. I sell fatigues and I have policemen in
this store almost every day. I always said, 'If you see anything
illegal, take it away.' I've never had any problems. And one
day the DEA comes in the door."
Pipe manufacturers and sellers
have been the subject of an on-again-off-again federal campaign against
drug paraphernalia in the last three years. Most of the cases are
linked to two US Attorneys' offices, the Southern District of Iowa (Des
Moines) and the Western District of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), and the
feds have typically followed leads from one head shop or manufacturer busts
to other sellers or makers. Under Supreme Court interpretations of
federal law, bongs and other non-traditional pipes are considered to be
drug paraphernalia.
"We're baffled," said Campbell,
who added that his store sponsored a Little League team, contributed to
charities and gave money to police organizations. "We're an accepted
part of this community, and now all of a sudden we're villains."
-- END --
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Issue #253, 9/6/02
Editorial: Federal Evildoers | DEA Turning Its Sights on Patients, Small Growers in Escalating California Medical Marijuana Conflict | Canadian Senate Panel Calls for Marijuana Legalization -- Urges Regulation and Control, Rejects US Pressure | You Are Now Leaving the EU: Christiania Gets Raided | Ducheneaux Guilty in Medical Marijuana Case as South Dakota Attorney General Candidates Unite Against Jury Rights Amendment | Massachusetts Local Ballots to Include Marijuana Decriminalization, Medical Marijuana, Hemp Questions | Medical Marijuana Polling: Yet More Info on MarijuanaInfo.org | 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Results Published | Stossel Tapes Still Available -- Support DRCNet and Reserve Your Copy of This Important ABC News Report Today! | Newsbrief: Board of Canvassers Rejects Michigan Initiative, Appeals Court Next | Newsbrief: California Legislature Passes Bill to Make Prop. 36 Clients Eligible for Food Stamps, Awaits Governor's Signature | Newsbrief: Nevada Marijuana Initiative Loses Support in Latest Poll | Newsbrief: Rainbow Farm to Be Auctioned | Newsbrief: Chills Owner Gets 14 Months on Federal Paraphernalia Rap | Newsbrief: DEA Busting Pipe-Sellers Again, This Time They Hit Illinois | Newsbrief: Tennessee Towns Fire Police Forces, Cite Too Much Attention to Meth Labs | Newsbrief: World of Competitive Bridge Fends Off Drug Menace, US Player Loses Medal for Refusing Drug Test | Newsbrief: DEA Brokers Thai-Lao Border Drug Cooperation Deal | Media Scan: Shawn Heller, Dan Forbes, Dan Gardner, Nando Times, Canadian Editorial Cartoons, DrugSense Drug Policy Links | Third Annual Fortune Society Prisoner Art Contest | Legislative Alerts: Rave Bill, Medical Marijuana, Higher Education Act Drug Provision | The Reformer's Calendar
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