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Resident urges review of convenience-store sales of items used as drug paraphernalia; commission tasks legal intern to research
Summary
A resident asked the committee to examine whether convenience stores selling scales, glass pipes and small baggies are facilitating illegal drug activity; commissioners received the item as information and directed legal counsel to have a summer intern research possible regulatory options.
Resident Morris Bridal presented photographs and examples he said show convenience stores selling digital scales, small bags and glass pipes — items he and others say commonly function as drug paraphernalia in neighborhoods with high rates of drug activity.
Bridal told the committee the items are sold openly at stores in parts of the county and argued those sales contribute to drug dealing and endanger communities. Commissioners discussed the challenge of regulating legal items that may be used for illegal purposes and asked legal counsel whether the county has authority to restrict sales. Attorney Turner Plunkett said most of the items are legal to sell and that a local regulatory path is not obvious, but he offered to have a summer law student intern research the legal options and report back.
Commissioner Slindak moved to receive the item as information and to task the general counsel’s office intern to research potential legal remedies and return before the end of the summer. That motion carried unanimously. Commissioners and staff noted that law enforcement already uses sales patterns as part of investigations but that the county will look into whether local regulations or enforcement approaches are possible.
