Source: The Courier-Mail (Australia) Contact: http://www.thecouriermail.com.au/ Copyright: News Limited 1998 Pubdate: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 Author: David Geary WHO ARE THEY KIDDING? DURING a recent trip around Australia, I was saddened to see clear evidence of hard drug use and resultant crime everywhere I went. An area of great concern to me is the legitimate sale of drug-smoking paraphernalia which is displayed as being "for tobacco use only". These articles (water pipes, bongs, cones) are available from tobacconists, gifts shops, service stations and newsagencies. Who are they trying to fool? Everyone knows these articles are for drug use. Ask any police officer. When young people see the promotion and sale of these articles by seemingly responsible business people, particularly at the local shopping mall, why wouldn't ownership and use of them be legitimised in young impressionable minds? Business people who sell such items have lost sight of their responsibilities to the young. They are assisting young people down the wrong path by displaying these goods. Statistics show that nearly all victims of hard drug addiction have progressed from marijuana use. Governments should ban the importation and sale of these articles if they are serious about attacking the drug problem. I have voiced my disapproval with business operators where possible and I call on like-minded people to do the same. We are failing our young people if we simply accept this gross practice. David Geary, Everton Park - --- Checked-by: Richard Lake