In some states, there is a wink-wink acknowledgement between law enforcement and stores that sell bongs and other devices that could (and sometimes are) used to smoke tobacco and other legal products, but which are primarily used for smoking pot. A bill being considered by Florida legislators would put an end to this friendly arrangement by outlawing the sale of such devices.

Florida HB 49 [PDF] is being considered by the state assembly’s Business and Professional Regulation subcommittee today.

It would make it illegal for anyone to sell any of the following:

“(a) Metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic smoking pipes, with or without screens, permanent screens, or punctured metal bowls.

(b) Water pipes.

(c) Carburetion tubes and devices.

(d) Chamber pipes.

(e) Carburetor pipes.

(f) Electric pipes.

(g) Air-driven pipes.

(h) Chillums.

(i) Bongs.

(j) Ice pipes or chillers.”

Currently, Florida law allows for the sale of many of these items if the store derives at least 75% of its sales from tobacco and the sale of this paraphernalia accounts for less than 25% of sales.

This bill would get rid of all those conditions and make it a first-degree misdemeanor to violate the law. Any retail tobacco seller found violating the law would face the possibility of having its license revoked and up to $1,000 in fines.

There is a Senate version of the bill [PDF] that leaves in an exemption for wooden pipes.

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