Pubdate: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc Contact: http://www.mrtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372 Author: Amy Steele Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DISTRICT ORDERS BONG STORE SHUT The District of Maple Ridge has ordered a store that was selling multi-coloured bongs, pipes, rolling papers and other items Mayor Gord Robson has described as "drug paraphernalia" to shut it doors because it didn't have a business licence. Brock McDonald, director of business licencing, permits and bylaws with the district, said Hemporium had applied for a business licence but it hadn't been approved when the store opened its doors Friday. During its brief existence the store had posters with marijuana leaves on its front windows. Key chains that said "legalize" on top of marijuana leaves were on sale. Mayor Gord Robson told council at the Monday council meeting that he had received "a number" of complaints about the store's existence. "I know there are a whole bunch of merchants who are very upset," said Robson. "Council is aware of this. I think the majority are displeased and we intend to look into the matter." Councillor Ken Stewart said he supports the stance the previous council took against the sale of drug paraphernalia and any items "that might support drug use." Council referred the matter to a closed council meeting for further discussion. After that closed meeting McDonald called the owner of the store to tell him to close it down because it didn't have a valid business licence. The TIMES visited the store prior to the bylaw department closing it down. Customers were signing a petition that stated "we the undersigned proudly support the opening of Hemporium, which is a local retail store selling hemp clothing and merchandise and incense as well as bongs, pipes and herb crushers." The petition stated that the business had a valid licence. Caity Langis, manager of Hemporium, said, "It's not like we're selling crack kits." She added that the store wasn't selling anything to anyone under the age of 19 and had been asking people to show their ID. "People are going to smoke weed regardless of whether this store is here," said Langis. "We're not selling weed out of here. We're not doing anything illegal." She added, Maple Ridge is full of "stoners." "There's successful people smoking pot and it's not ruining lives," she said. Langis said sales had been "very good." "We've had people come in and say Maple Ridge has needed a store like this for a long time," she said. Some customers offered to circulate the petition to keep the store open themselves, she said. Councillor Craig Speirs told The TIMES after the council meeting he agreed that the store should be shut down because it didn't have a business licence but he said the issue isn't a "moral or ethical" one. "I think our drug laws are irrational. In my view pot should be legal but this is not about an illegal substance. This is about what they're selling and is it legal to sell it or not," said Speirs. "If it's illegal, it's illegal and we should deal with it." - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath