just a concern about my local headshop.

[illnillinois]

I have purchased a few things off and on, and the last time I was in there. The owners son and were talking and i started talking about weed. He quickly said, "Talk very softly, our cameras have mics" he said the cops review the tapes now and then in events of "problems".. we were the only 2 in the shop, so i know it wasn't because he was worried a customer would hear us..

If that is true WTF, dunno but be careful what you say or ask for in your local head shop!

[ADM]

What in the hell, at my headshop in the quadcities, they had to take every single pipe out. But the cops are listening and watching their tapes!? Come on now, thats a huge invasion of privacy - unless their allowing them to for some reason.

[illnillinois]

unless their allowing them to for some reason.

that is the point. Its not hard for a local business to "convinced" to cooperate with the local law dogs to stay in business. even more so when owner and son are from Pakistan..
My town is WAY fucked, population 4100, yet we have the County sheriff, local police and State troopers are all stationed in the city..

[TheMetal1]

That's pretty shitty that a headshop, a place that should pride itself on respecting the privacy of its' patrons (especially when some of them sell larger than life sex toys to all walks of life ;)) would allow law enforcement to view surveillance tapes because of supposed "problems." They should only be relevant to things like reported store theft or acts of violence. Total invasion of privacy. UNLESS the store is volunteering that information... in which case... go somewhere else, encourage others to do so also, and try to put them out of business. Dicks!!


dunno but be careful what you say or ask for in your local head shop!

Which must be why my local shop will NOT allow ANY reference to illegal paraphernalia at ANY time. They will honestly ask you to leave immediately and may deny you access if you repeat the offense. I have ZERO problem with this. I understand that they run a major risk selling things like waterpipes and other smoking devices in the same shop that offers marijuana themed novelty items, posters, magazines, etc. All of which is obviously related to Cannabis culture. If I can't walk into the store and call it a bong or ask if they have things like a pollen press/kief catcher/4 piece grinder, but that ensures that they will be there legally for years to come... I call it a welcome trade-off.

But yes... the release of private store surveillance, which may expose law abiding citizens to public defamation due to questionable purchases, is NOT constitutional, in my opinion. It is NOT illegal to buy a hookah/waterpipe/bowl or even a 2 foot long vibrating dildo :wtf: BUT it may be embarassing to someone if the general population found out they were purchasing those types of "taboo" items.

Hopefully your store owners wise up and realize that they have rights. We are still America last time I checked and we have like 4 rights left... right? haha

[stinkyattic]

By talking about illegal substance use within 'earshot' of the cameras you put the shop at risk.

If the shop is robbed or broken into, which happens frequently at shops selling drug paraphenalia, the tapes will be reviewed for information on the break-in. If, during that review, it becomes clear that the shop is allowing talk of illegal drug use on its premises, now the shop is in trouble, even worse than taking a loss due to a robbery.

If you like the shop and respect its staff, do them a favor and make sure you're only talking about tobacco, 'legal herbal highs', etc, and not weed.

[xcrispi]

Some things in life are just assumed ,
You'd get banned here in the ghetto man . There's a list of about 1000 things that can not be said in our local shops in Detroit . Some will go as far as calling the police themselves for their own protection from all the crazy fucked up legalities involved .

These owners are highons themselves too . I know . :D
"Welcome to Amerdica"
Procede with great caution "The Hills Have Eyes"
Crispi :jointsmile:

[RobPA]

My headshop is the same way. Prolly why its lasted for 30 odd years in the same location. They still ask me for my ID everytime I go there and ive been going there for 8 years. They get a lot of kids that come in there with a group of friends and they have to literally card everyone, they dont mess around. I always like to support my local headshop, but the prices are starting to get ridiculous and I find myself more and more buying stuff online.

[CaptainDank]

Some things in life are just assumed ,
You'd get banned here in the ghetto man . There's a list of about 1000 things that can not be said in our local shops in Detroit.

Ann Arbor is the exact same way. I walked into the biggest headshop in town (42) with a broken bong today and asked if there was any chance of fixing it, and the guy behind the counter acted like i took out my dick, and said i had to leave. I'm not an idiot, the bong was squeaky clean and wouldn't legally qualify as paraphenalia, but i guess the guy still didnt wanna take any chances.

they shold just legalize this shit :jointsmile:

[the image reaper]

I was TOLD !, in no uncertain terms, to "get out!!" at a headshop/record store in Chico a couple years back ... I asked to see their 'bongs' :wtf: ... the teenie counter girl (with the hairy armpits):wtf: went beserk :wtf: ... I was so embarrassed ... yeah, I left quietly, she kinda scared me, anyway ... :jointsmile:

[jayson]

woah you guys got it bad where ever you live..im use to rolling joints in a few of the head shops i go to.

[TheMetal1]

woah you guys got it bad where ever you live..im use to rolling joints in a few of the head shops i go to.

Yeah... well... my dad could beat up your dad :wtf:


;)

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I was TOLD !, in no uncertain terms, to "get out!!" at a headshop/record store in Chico a couple years back ... I asked to see their 'bongs' :wtf: ... the teenie counter girl (with the hairy armpits):wtf: went beserk :wtf: ... I was so embarrassed ... yeah, I left quietly, she kinda scared me, anyway ... :jointsmile:


That's just insane. What, are you supposed to say "excuse me, could I see one of your glass plant vases?" Selling a bong isn't illegal, just filling it with cannabis is. Headshops here at least have some spirit; selling books on legalzing cannabis, how to grow it ect, not just filling a market niche while acting ashamed of the culture they supposedly support.

[TheMetal1]

What, are you supposed to say "excuse me, could I see one of your glass plant vases?"

My shop insists that you refer to it as a "Water pipe." We are allowed to say things like bowl, papers, rolling tray... basically any wording that does not have a mainstream association with smoking Cannabis.

The term bong, while having a definition that can include the term "water pipe," is mostly understood as a device to smoke bud. If you look for a definition, probably more than 50% would have the term marijuana in it. Water pipe, however, is simply that. A pipe that holds water in it.

My basic school of thought... if you wouldn't feel comfortable saying the term in front of a police officer, don't say it in a headshop. I would have no problem if a cop overheard me saying "Damn, I have to go pick up that water pipe before they close." Likewise, I would NOT say "Damn, I have to go pick up that bong before they close."

When business owners run their store on the borders of legality (having overtly themed merchandise or equipment to use illegal substances) they HAVE to protect themselves. The way they do that, is limit the language that can be used while in the store. They don't care what you do after you buy it... Hell they KNOW what you do after you buy it. :jointsmile:
All it takes is ONE undercover officer to go into the shop and ask for a "phat new bong," and have the cashier say... "Hells yeah, check this one out. It will FUUUUCK you up."

Game over... store closed... :(

[jayson]

Yeah... well... my dad could beat up your dad :wtf:


;)

YOU'RE ADOPTED. sorryifyouactuallyareididntmeanit.

[IrieIrie]

when we go to ours, just to keep ourselves out of any trouble we're just like "yeah i need the thing for the you know, the thing..." and they'll know what your saying and they'll start showin you everything under the sun lol.

[ATrain]

Around here is depends on the shop and the person serving you. I've seen people working there tell other customers that their products are only for tobacco use and aren't intended for anything else. Other shops though I've talked openly about weed with the owners.

It seems like it is all a question of the specific situation. At least in Ontario :jointsmile:

[cygnustaxt]

yeah damn that first ammendment, freedom of speech my ass. Damn big brother always beathing down my mo fuckin back. Thats retarded that the gov't gets suspiscious when they look at the tape and hear someone talking about weed or marijuana. I mean I know cops are dumb and all, I'm sure they know exactly why people buy bongs or 'water pipes'. I know that the stores are just covering their asses, which makes sense, but almost everyone ESPECIALLY cops know exactly what a 'water pipe' is used for. I dont see how just calling it something else will help. A different name doesn't hide its actual use.

[stinkyattic]

...

[Sir Bliss]

That's just insane. What, are you supposed to say "excuse me, could I see one of your glass plant vases?" Selling a bong isn't illegal, just filling it with cannabis is. Headshops here at least have some spirit; selling books on legalzing cannabis, how to grow it ect, not just filling a market niche while acting ashamed of the culture they supposedly support.

At my local shop there are signs above the bongs saying "THESE ARE CALLED TUBES" in big red lettering.

:wtf: If that's the way it's gotta be, then so be it. But come on...tubes?

[NextLineIsMine]

Yeah most head shops are like that. Their clerks will give you a bemused understanding look but wont openly talk about weed

[silkyblue]

Yeah... well... my dad could beat up your dad




OMGFLMFAO....



advice for said story


No next time walk in the shop
and loudly whilst smilin, say " hey bro hows the sandwiches"!!??


wave to the cam and say legalise the sammys!


theres cams on every street corner nowadays (


thats a bust in the consitution right there ((

[Mississippi Steve]

Here they call them "incense holders" at one store, but the other one is kewl, as long as you don't pull out a zip and start rolling one. OTOH, I wanted to try selling the waterpipes I make, and the owner says she will only buy from licensed companies. I dunno, I am the owner of a licensed company, but just not one that would normally manufacture pipes and such. Oh well...