Venice Boardwalk Marijuana Pipe, Bong Sellers Threatened by Lawsuit

By Dennis Romero Wed., May 9 2012 at 7:03 AM

Brian Auer

Shopping for pipes is easy along this park.

Some Venice residents are upset that marijuana pipes are sold in the marijuana capital of America -- the Venice boardwalk -- and have planned to file suit against the city.

But before you say, Duh, where else would find a good bong, consider:

The lawsuit would note that a city ordinance prohibits the peddling of "drug paraphernalia" within 500 feet of a public park, according to Venice311, and ...

... Venice along the beach is such a city park.

Carl-Johan Sveningsson

According to Venice311:

Now aware of a clear and direct violation of laws designed specifically to keep the presence of drug related items away from children - local residents are now no longer relying on LAPD, and are taking up a lawsuit against the City of LA and the business owners involved directly.

We reached out to the City Attorney's office: A rep said they hadn't heard of the suit, but he was looking into it.

A concerned resident told Venice311, "When you look at the age of the people shopping in those stores, you realize it appeals to a youthful crowd."

Damn pot-smoking whipper snappers.

Venice has never seen the likes of them. (Oh, wait, there's that whole history as an epicenter of counterculture with the Beats, Jim Morrison, et. al.).

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We'll keep you updated on this movement against the tools of toking.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

bongs, drug paraphernalia, lawsuit, marijuana, Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Venice boardwalk

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bongs for sale

They are selling bongs, not marijuana. There is nothing illegal.

David Mowers

They will win, federal law mandates criminal penalties for any drug violation including violations of the subsection in the Controlled Substances Act on drug paraphernalia AND the government does not have to prove it is being sold intended for drug use. They just have to show that the majority of cases in which law enforcement agencies encounter similar-looking items they are ALWAYS used for illegal drugs. This has been ruled on all the way up to the Supreme Court. Say goodbye to head shops anywhere near public parks, beaches, schools, playgrounds, daycare centers, amusement parks or any location in which minor children can be found with or without their adult parents, like skate board parks or malls. On the East Coast the Justice Department has already attacked mall owners over bongs and pipes having filed suit against Spencer's Gifts a few years ago...and won. Just a matter of time before they go after stores near College campuses since those institutions are accepting minors now for advanced learning and offering daycare for mothers attending college. Say bye bye it was nice while it lasted.

metal smoking pipes

Hello..The laws are always meant for the good cause and people should obey them. Smoking pipes are only beneficial if taken in minimum required amount ans also does not contain the toxins.

Guest

Back in the seventies you could smoke a joint walking the Venice boardwalk, and scarry Harry Perry--he was there then, too!--would warn people from his PA system if cops were approaching.

Dennis Romero

True story: Harry Perry used to go to rave club Magic Wednesdays in the mid-'90s and dance on stage with his shirt off. And he was old back then. At first I didn't recognize him with his long dreads and without his turban.

Safetyfirst

It really is sad that this is still illegal and people can't seem to grasp that our laws should be based on facts. There are so many reasons against marijuana prohibition that it's dumbfounding that someone could be against regulation. Legalize and regulate it already so that if your kids do end up smoking it you know what they are getting and are making sure that they don't unknowingly smoke some marijuana that has meth or crack in it and make this non issue into a huge health issue.