Government's bong ban 'will harm cannabis smokers'

[Oz]

THE Rann Government's ban on bongs will not stop drug use and could have dangerous flow-on effects on the health of pot smokers, according to users and experts.

 

The State Government last night passed tough new laws so anyone selling cannabis bongs or drug implements will face fines of up to $50,000 or two years in jail.

 

The laws cover the sale of implements such as hookahs, bongs, cocaine kits and pipes used to smoke deadly crystal methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice.

 

One local drug expert, pharmacology associate professor Rodney Irvine, said users will seek other ways to inhale smoke and that could be more dangerous.

 

"When you close one loophole another one emerges, a different pattern of use emerges," he said

 

"They'll make them out of anything, obviously.

 

"I would say that there's a possibility those alternative homemade ones will have some problems."

Dr Irvine said smoking through a bong or water pipe was probably slightly less dangerous than using joints or pipes.

 

"Intuitively, I would say that smoking anything through a water pipe is a better option than smoking it in a joint or a spliff," he said.

 

"If you're smoking tobacco through a water pipe you've got cooler smoke. If there's cooler smoke, there are less volatile substances, therefore less tar."

 

Many cannabis smokers said they would simply make their own pipes from household goods.

 

SA Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said the legislation - introduced by independent MLC Ann Bressington - responded to the widespread public concern that paraphernalia intended for use with illicit drugs was freely available in South Australia.

 

"The Rann Labor Government has banned the bong,'' he said.

 

"Commercial outlets retailing drug paraphernalia in South Australia will now either have to shut up shop, as Smoke Signals at No. 34 Hindley Street has done, or find another line of business.''

 

Until now, courts had to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, that the person in possession of the equipment intended to use it in connection with preparing or consuming an illegal drug.

 

"To my knowledge just a handful of cases have been brought against commercial outlets selling drug paraphernalia because of the difficulty of proving that the seller intended the equipment be used in connection with preparing or consuming an illicit drug," Mr Atkinson said.

Author: Tory Shepherd

Date: 11/04/08

Source: AdelaideNow

Copyright: Copyright 2008 News Limited.

[sunnycoaststoner]

i suspect that they are just keeping up with the jones's so to speak, queensland has had it for months but if you look in the right places things are still easy to find. sorry to hear about your bong problem guys. does that include the ozstoners shop too oz? all the best.

[s4l]

"The laws cover the sale of implements such as hookahs, bongs, cocaine kits and pipes used to smoke deadly crystal methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice."

 

why the hell would you ban hookahs

 

to the recycle bin and garden hose!

[Guest niall]

So what, people wanted them banned because of "the widespread public concern that paraphernalia intended for use with illicit drugs was freely available in South Australia"?

 

Surely the reason would be that they don't want people using cannabis, that they think a bong ban would reduce the use of cannabis....?

 

Or has this got nothing to do with cannabis, meth or any drugs and their use - just the fact people don't like seeing bongs for sale?!? Not even that they're doing this for improved public health or that it's the right thing to do? Not even some lame excuse or sending the right message - simply that they don't like seeing bongs and bong stores?

[Gee]

what a fucking joke. destroying businesses is all that will achieve.

[aussiekraut]

i suspect that they are just keeping up with the jones's so to speak, queensland has had it for months but if you look in the right places things are still easy to find. sorry to hear about your bong problem guys. does that include the ozstoners shop too oz? all the best.

 

 

The fun thing in Qld is that hookahs and pipes are still freely available. Only bongs have been banned because "people use them to smoke Ice and Crack". Dunno about you but should I ever have the desire to smoke Crack or Ice, then I'd certainly not use a bong but a pipe.

 

And even better, I am not allowed to buy a bong in Qld but can order them online from Vic or bring them home from there. Is that ridiculous or is it ridiculous? Well, before they ban that as well, I'm gonna order a crap load of spare parts and maybe another one or two bongs for a rainly day. I have four but they won't last forever I'm afraid

 

AK

Edited April 15, 2008 by aussiekraut

[urbanfarmer]

wonder if the government will offer to buy back 2nd hand smoking implements?