Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2012
Source: Press and Guide (Dearborn, MI)
Copyright: 2012 Press and Guide
Contact:  http://www.pressandguide.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5196
Author: Steve F. Arnold

RETAILERS SHOULD CONSIDER DROPPING THE SALE OF DRUG-RELATED
PARAPHERNALIA, LIKE THEY DID K2

To the Editor:

A Dearborn-based group of concerned parents and "citizen soldiers"
played a small and humble role in the recent successful initiative to
ban the sales "K2" (synthetic marijuana) in the state of Michigan.
This was a good thing for our youth. In support of this initiative,
two separate protests/boycotts were held at retail establishments in
the city of Dearborn - ownership at both of these facilities promised
to no longer sell these dangerous products. Economic boycotts, or even
the threat of such, are very powerful tools in the arsenal of democracy.

However, the leadership of this group has subsequently been accused of
blackmail, extortion, libel, using bad-language, bringing in outsiders
(non-Dearborn residents) and even paying protestors. These charges,
scurrilous as they are, are for the most part true. No apologies are
offered for the methods employed, except for the usage of a bad
language. This author let his temper and passion get the best of him=C2=85

and for that he is very sorry.

To set the record straight, most retailers in the city of Dearborn
chose not to sell synthetic marijuana in the past. They chose to
forego the high profit-margins associated with these dangerous
products and chose to have a "social conscious" rather than
endangering our youth. For this they should be rightfully commended.

Unfortunately, however, many of these same retailers presently choose
to sell drug-related paraphernalia (e.g. wrapping papers and pipes).
Ostensibly, the sale of such products are justified as being marketed
toward users of tobacco products - for the most part this is a
charade. They are primarily marketed toward users of marijuana, and
frequently target our youth.

Selling such drug-related paraphernalia and placing them near the
cashier's window (where they most often are) serves to tempt and
facilitate illicit drug usage amongst our youth. In short, by choosing
to sell these products, retailers decide to put profits over community
and become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. A bad
choice for our youth. Perhaps our retailers do not understand the full
ramifications of their poor choice.

In the on-going battle for the hearts and minds of our youth,
retailers are requested to demonstrate the same social consciousness
they did in regards to "K2" and cease and desist from selling
drug-related paraphernalia in our community.

Progress on this front is being made, British Petroleum (BP) has
directed in a nationwide-letter to all its retail stores that they are
prohibited from selling "=C2=85items that are intended or designed for us
e
in ingesting , inhaling or otherwise consuming an illegal drug."
Progress, yes, but BP has some work to do in regards to ensuring complian
ce.

Additionally, one of the Dearborn retailers boycotted for distributing
synthetic marijuana is considering following BP's lead. He is a good
man and a good father. He will make the right choice.

Steve F. Arnold

Dearborn
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MAP posted-by: Matt