In the News: Come July, it May Be Harder to Get High in Florida

It may soon become just a little harder to get high on illegal drugs in Florida.  A new bill signed by Governor Rick Scott makes it illegal for retail stores to knowingly sell drug paraphernalia like glass pipes and bongs. The law goes into effect on July 1^st.

However, this does not mean that all head shops in Florida will have to close their doors. The bill allows smoking devices to be sold if they are going to be used for tobacco smoking. Previously, head shops had to have 75% of their sales come from tobacco sales.

This doesn’t seem like much of a change. Most head shops in Florida go to extra lengths for legitimacy. They usually won’t sell to you if you use the word “bong” or talk about illegal drugs in the store.

Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) the sponsor of the ‘bong ban’ bill hopes that this bill will make people drive to other states if they intend to buy drug paraphernalia for illegal drugs.

“If we can make people drive to Georgia and Alabama and South Carolina to get fireworks, they can drive to get these utensils of death,” Rouson told the Broward New Times.

Rouson says he started with a stronger version of the bill, but the passed version was watered down. He says he will continue his work to get pipes and bongs off the shelves in Florida for good.

Rouson was a crack addict before sobering up 15 years ago. Today, he sees bongs and pipes not as good-time party favors but as implements of addiction.

If you or your loved one is in need of drug addiction treatment, please give us a call at 800-951-6135.

Sources:

http://digitalissue.browardpalmbeach.com/display_article.php?id=1337703

http://knightnews.com/2013/06/florida-bong-ban-set-to-be-effective-july-1/

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/22614271/will-it-be-harder-to-get-high-in-florida