Point-Counterpoint: Philadelphia's Drug Paraphernalia Ban (Pt. 1 of 2)
Drug deaths require action
Adam Holtz
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Ed-Op
After reading the ban, I was surprised to find that it specifies the selling of bongs, roach clips and miniature cocaine vials as illicit in the city's business regulation code. Unless there's a club that collects these things in Philadelphia to enjoy their aesthetic values, I am shocked City Council didn't act sooner.
Ban critics claim retailers sell harmless products used for traditional tobacco use. Retailers, they say, shouldn't be responsible for the actions of their patrons. However, anyone with a little common sense would agree that with modern tobacco production, there is little purpose for cigarette papers today past a pothead's demands.
Known as a gateway drug for its precursory use to harder substances, marijuana has found its way into the hands of 200 million people ages 12-35 in the past year, the equivalent of 5 percent of the world's population. By preventing youth access to drug paraphernalia, legislators believe they will be less likely to experiment with prescription and IV drug use, and reduce the 46.1 percent of Americans who have admitted some degree of drug use to the United Nations Office of Drugs & Crime.
The individuals that pass through the office of the coroner were brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives who had people who loved them; they had human thoughts and human emotions, just as we still do. At the coroner's office, our day begins when another person's ends, a profound truth of the 60 individuals who died due to the adverse effects of drugs last year in our county. The use of drugs and tobacco products cause so many deaths each year in the United States, they are second only to heart disease. With increased awareness of drugs and proactive legislation to decrease their prevalence, less of our friends and colleagues will fall victim to drugs and find themselves on the coroner's table.
Ban critics claim retailers sell harmless products used for traditional tobacco use. Retailers, they say, shouldn't be responsible for the actions of their patrons. However, anyone with a little common sense would agree that with modern tobacco production, there is little purpose for cigarette papers today past a pothead's demands.
Known as a gateway drug for its precursory use to harder substances, marijuana has found its way into the hands of 200 million people ages 12-35 in the past year, the equivalent of 5 percent of the world's population. By preventing youth access to drug paraphernalia, legislators believe they will be less likely to experiment with prescription and IV drug use, and reduce the 46.1 percent of Americans who have admitted some degree of drug use to the United Nations Office of Drugs & Crime.
The individuals that pass through the office of the coroner were brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives who had people who loved them; they had human thoughts and human emotions, just as we still do. At the coroner's office, our day begins when another person's ends, a profound truth of the 60 individuals who died due to the adverse effects of drugs last year in our county. The use of drugs and tobacco products cause so many deaths each year in the United States, they are second only to heart disease. With increased awareness of drugs and proactive legislation to decrease their prevalence, less of our friends and colleagues will fall victim to drugs and find themselves on the coroner's table.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
dennis
Dennis Mongello
posted 2/16/07 @ 5:30 PM EST
What does this ban accomplish? First off, what is the "war" on drugs? A war against an idea? That is unwinnable... And just how hard is the government fighting this war? Did you ever notice, on every billboard, in every magazine, in every corner store, on every tv screen, the message is "buy cigarettes and alcohol"?
You say "However, anyone with a little common sense would agree that with modern tobacco production, there is little purpose for cigarette papers today past a pothead's demands. (Continued…)
Tom Jones
posted 2/16/07 @ 8:24 PM EST
Just wanted to point out a couple things.
1.) Correlation does NOT equal causation. Nobody has ever died from a marijuana "overdose."
2.) You keep confusing use and abuse. (Continued…)
Dan Cardillo
posted 2/16/07 @ 9:57 PM EST
I am disappointed (but unsurprised) to see that the gateway theory, which has been disproved many times, is still being purported as truth.
The Institute of Medicine conducted research regarding marijuana usage and human health entitled Details Reply to this comment