No one could blame you for forever stopping and wondering why it is exactly that we’re able to purchase a grinder, pipes, and bongs, even if what they’re used for is illegal on a federal level. Even for states and countries that have not legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, most citizens can still easily obtain these items in ‘head shops’ and sometimes even small corner stores. How can these store owners sell pipes and bongs so easily without fear of repercussion, and why are we so easily able to buy them? It’s all due to a pretty handy dandy little trick they use.
Have you ever noticed a sign or poster hanging on the wall or shelves near all these glass products? A sign that says, “These products are for tobacco use only”? That’s exactly what makes it legal for store owners to provide these things to their customers. By stating that their products are only made for smoking tobacco, they can avoid all liability for whatever people choose to do with them after buying. It might seem a little weird, but that’s because it is—just a strange feature of a quirky legal system.
Drug paraphernalia like pipes, bongs, or even grinders and kief presses is a punishable offense. It can net you a bit of trouble from the police, especially if found on your person when driving, for example. If you need to travel extensively with a lot of smoking gear for whatever reason, it might be a good idea to make damn sure that everything has been cleaned until it is spotless. To avoid blame, there must be absolutely zero traces of any residues. This tactic is useless if you decide to drive with a stash of cannabis, though, because even if all your glass is clean, an officer is likely to want to search you and your car if he sees all that stuff.
