Pubdate: Sun, 15 Jun 2008
Source: Ha'aretz (Israel)
Copyright: 2008sHa'aretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.haaretz.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/807
Author: Shahar Ilan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia)

KNESSET OUTLAWS SALE OF BONGS, OFTEN USED FOR MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION

The Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee  approved on 
Sunday a law banning the sale of bongs ?  water pipes often used for 
the smoking of marijuana.

The law, which was approved in the second and third  readings, 
prohibits the sale and import of apparatuses  geared for the 
production and consumption of illicit  drugs. The main objective of 
the new law is to put an  end to the sale of bongs at stores adjacent 
to  educational institutions.

The law stipulates that the punishment for the sale of  bongs will 
not exceed five years incarceration.  However, the Knesset committee 
withdrew the clause that  prohibits the possession of paraphernalia 
used for  personal drug use.

The law applies to all apparatuses used for the  production and 
consumption of illicit drugs, but  mentions by name only the bong.

The explanation attached to the wording of the law  states that "the 
sale and import of bongs has dealt a  blow to the country. Smoking 
devices are sold in kiosks  and grocery stores adjacent to schools 
and other places  frequented by young people, and are imported into 
Israel in large quantities."

Even before the new law was approved, the existing law  prohibited 
the sale and possession of devices used to  produce or consume drugs, 
and even attached a maximum  20 year jail sentence as a penalty to 
such a crime, but  the existing law is difficult to enforce because 
the courts insist that the device in question contain at  least 
traces of illicit substances.

The new law still awaits approval in the second and  third readings 
before the Knesset plenum.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom