STORE OWNER PULLS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OFF SHELVES

Sales of pipes and lighters have prompted Gila Valley parents and
community members to step up efforts to keep kids off drugs.

Water-cooled glass pipes and army-style lighters were, until
recently, on display at a local corner store. The store was the focus
of concerns at the November Thatcher Town Council meeting.

"I'm concerned about the close proximity to schools, mainly the
elementary school," Councilor Bill Mullenaux said at the council
meeting, referring to the access of drug paraphernalia and alcohol at
the new store.

When several neighbors complained, former police officer and EAC
educator Steve Johnson wrote a letter to the new store owners and
received immediate cooperation.

"They took the items off the shelves right away while we were talking
on the telephone," Johnson said.

Johnson commended the owner and manager for quickly pulling the
items, although many small stores carry them, particularly in stores
in large cities like Tucson. Johnson said in his letter that 4.5
percent of high school seniors abuse marijuana each day, not
including the use of other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, steroids,
"meth" and abused prescription drugs. He called the statistic alarming.

"Legally, stores can sell these collectors' pipes because they are
also used to smoke tobacco, but they are mainly used for smoking
marijuana," Johnson said. "Law enforcement officials have the burden
of proving they are being sold to smoke marijuana."

Other stores, such as the Next Alternative, have been selling pipes
or bongs, other drug paraphernalia and other exotic items for many
years in the Gila Valley without consequence. Although the store
carries many valuable and unique items, the community seems concerned
about the availabilty of the questionable items used with drugs and
combined with alcohol consumption, Johnson said.

Safford Police Captain Dennis Whisman said his department is aware of
this store and has seen its effect on local youth. He also said it is
not the only store selling such items.

"I've never caught a kid with the old wooden tobacco pipes, " Whisman
said. "They always have the fancy glass pipes or bongs."

Whisman said he has never met anyone who uses the colorful pipes for
anything but marijuana. He also said the law with drug paraphernalia
is too open-ended and that it needs to be more specific so certain
dual-purpose items can't be sold next door.

"I think they (glass pipes) should not be sold in stores because they
promote drug use," Whisman said.

Deputy Chief Juvenile Officer Sandra Figueroa said overall drug use
has declined with teens in the Valley, but she still has concerns
about the small percentage using drugs.

"One thing I know for sure is that we (Gila Valley) really have a
problem with methamphetamines," Figueroa said. "It's not just marijuana."