cannabisnews.com: Main Line Head-Shop Owner Sentenced!





Main Line Head-Shop Owner Sentenced!
Posted by FoM on July 29, 1999 at 07:21:32 PT
By Meredith Fischer, Inquirer Suburban Staff
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
A Main Line shop specializing in drug paraphernalia was shut down permanently and the owner sent to prison yesterday, the result of two days of police surveillance last winter.
Leslie Mark Joblin of Wynnewood, owner of Critters on Lancaster Avenue in Rosemont, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to six to 12 months in prison and two years probation. He was charged with selling pipes, rolling paper, urine-purifier kits and bongs -- water pipes often used for smoking marijuana -- in violation of the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. The Critters trademark logo now belongs to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office."We want to make sure no one benefits from this trademark," Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said. "This individual was very successful in his store, with its location in the area . . . with a number of college students and young people around."Steele said Joblin also would have to forfeit $200,000 seized from his bank accounts.Joblin was arrested Feb. 26 after two days of surveillance by county detectives who said they had seen at least "100 young people coming out of the store," according to court records. Some were carrying five-foot bongs, Steele said.Before Joblin's arrest, detectives conducted a search of the store that netted 673 pipes, 51,250 pieces of rolling paper and 193 bongs, among other items, according to authorities, Joblin also sold syringes and literature on planting, cultivating, growing, harvesting and manufacturing marijuana, heroin and psychedelic drugs, according to court documents. "A store like this provides the means for young people to get involved in drugs," Steele said. "It has serious ramifications, which is why we are taking such a hard line."Joblin's lawyer, Stephen P. Patrizio, could not be reached for comment.While shopping in the store, detectives spoke with Joblin and told him they were looking for a present for a friend who "loves to get baked," according to the probable-cause affidavit."What he did is provide the means for people to use drugs," Steele said. "Closing this store is terrific from a community standpoint."The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 1999© 1998 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #6 posted by Erik on September 01, 2001 at 15:41:51 PT
Liars!
Why does our government tend to make society's decisions?As people of the community we must take action against government persecutions. We have minds of our own and we decide what is right for us. That thing about "terrific from a community standpoint" is halarious in the sense that Steele thinks he is the community.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Steve on July 26, 2001 at 08:57:39 PT:
Laws?
Where can I find laws pertaining to the legality of head shop merchandise? I run an online head shop.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Scrott on June 20, 2001 at 05:19:33 PT
This is the same as in 1984..
In the early 1980's, in california, a senate bill (SB341, i beleive)was passed outlawing such terms as "headshop, cokespoon, bong... etc" and forced a number of pipe suppliers(wholesale and retail) to change thier names (any name with the words head or bongs for example). Police were sent into the stores to try to buy item using the banned words. The point is.. the government made the products banned based on the intended use based on the what people called the items. One major supplier had his whole inventory confiscated... over a million dollars worth of merchandise. If you do business, read the laws, and take the time to protect yourself. We had hung signs with lists of the banned words in our shop. And were forced to refuse service to anyone who spoke them (for anyone to speak them, showed intent to use a product in an illegal manner). Another thing was that we had to stop selling any books that had anything to do with illegal drugs. I hope this post reaches some of us red blooded american pipe shop capitolists. And makes aware that big brother is in your private and personal business with stores of this nature. Play safe, and be smart. Educate yourself.out of here... for now.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Rasp on May 26, 2000 at 14:28:25 PT:
I hate the government
  The government sucks. They deploy misinformation about marijuana even when they are consistently proven wrong by independent researchers. That said, I would like to say that kids Including me) Want to smoke pot and should be allowed to. Even though it will never happen if pot was legalized it would be easier for kids to get it and that is a good thing
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #2 posted by Greeches on October 28, 1999 at 05:17:59 PT
BURN
Oh man, they smoked.......MARIJUANA??? Oh no, now they will go out and try to find a rape victim, and maybe rob a few stores.....oh yeah, they would have to be in a drunken rage to do that...........
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by Nakedboi on August 24, 1999 at 10:47:51 PT
What a crock
...Steele said. "Closing this store is terrific from a community standpoint."He's right, terrific means full of terror. If the store was as successful as the article portrayed it, the community supported it. I think I would be in terror if I knew my local head shop was shut down. A common mistake in language shows more truth then what he said.
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: