Selling Glass pipes online, anyone look into it?
 

I know that Tommy Chong got 9 months for it, but I can't find where he actually broke the law. At least where it made sence. What's illegal about selling glass pipe , water pipes and such online, is it state specific? Is it a federal thing?
The reason I ask is I'm building an online store and some glass sex toy people asked me about it, could be a huge seller, giving all the hype right now about legalizing marijuana.
I have some nice glass myself, I have probably the biggest bubbler anyone has ever seen.

I see glass pipe sites that ship online, but that doesn't mean it's legal, so has anyone looked into this, before I sell anything, I will get my lawyer to look up everything.

Tommy wasn't even selling them, they just were using his name for marketing. They got popped because they sold to undercover (after being begged and hounded by them) and shipped one to Pennsylvania, where apparently owning a piece of glass is a crime. I still believe the whole thing was entrapment, but Tommy just plain got fucked. He was scapegoated for it because they were using his name.

Definitely be careful. It's not just where you operate, but also where you sell and ship. :2 cents:

I've been looking for a white label to take that risk / opportunity for like 3 months now. So far no luck. Im like you don't want to risk breaking any laws on it, so let someone else take that risk lol.

Yeah I saw the special about Tommy, was pretty fucked up to do that to him.
So it was just that one state, My sister lives there
Is there a list of states somewhere where it's illegal?

when this online store is done, I plan on having it hooked up for affiliates, but not white label, it wouldn't make sense because of the branding. I'm just looking at adding more glass products. If I can get a list to sell them to states that are legal, then I'll move forward with it.

Unless you are going to sell kick ass bongs people in mmj states could give a fuck about glass pipes, they are everywhere and some dispensaries give them away free.

agreed... your bongs and pipes better be on par with Molino, Ehle and Roor, or no one is going to care. I only order Roor bongs and parts... cuz I'm picky. :2 cents:

Products are shipped over water by ship. Internet provides worldwide communication.

Shipping glass eeech. Be careful with that.

I think we'll do pretty good, most outlets jack up the prices 300%. I'm going to be getting them straight from the manufacturer and will very competative. Also there will be the branding

OK, You and I are going to have to get together, I'll have to drive out to the bay area and bring my bubbler

They have been shipping glass for a long time, it's all about the packaging

:uhoh ...

The problem with this is not just what you do, but what your affiliate does (like where those pipes are being marketed). There are local issues too that can easily slip off your radar -- Redding for example won't allow glass pipe sales at dispensaries, and many communities even within California take a dim view on them cuz of tweakers...

people are spending $1000's of glass bong online, gotta know the market to be able to sell for those prices and know the guys making them to get the best deals/products. but there's lots of money in it for sure.

As a side note to Tommy Chong, the same attorney that nailed him is the one that got Rob Black

Yah I guess good bubble wrap and you're safe.

Lol! - yah that will work....

The section of code you are looking for is 21 USC Sec. 863.

A key snippet:

And here's the relevant statutory definition of "paraphernalia:"


There are other bits of the statute that get into "matters considered in determination of what constitutes drug paraphernalia" and certain exemptions, as well.

Lots for sale through this site, posted a few days ago, right here on GFY.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.31840

I wonder if it is legal to buy through them, or for them to ship to you?....

The interesting thing to me is, how do they determine what is actually "drug" paraphernalia versus what can legitimately have other uses. For example, a bong can be used for smoking many things... not just "drugs". And a simple apple (fruit, not the company), can be used for smoking weed. So can empty Pepsi cans... is Pepsi paraphernalia? Syringes can be used to help & heal as well as shoot junk... so are needles evil or what? I use a miniature spoon to measure and take heartburn remedy... paraphernalia?

That's where the "tobacco products" work-around comes in; there are exceptions for other potential legal uses, too, but the possibility is always there that you have to defend your "use case" in court.

If it comes to that, then the court goes by criteria listed in the same portion of the Controlled Substances Act that covers the definition and penalties for paraphernalia related offenses:

When you buy a vaporizer online, they send you this attachment and some aromatherapy herbs so it is an aromatherapy product. But you can no doubt make some dough selling pipes. I'd focus on local store to store stuff though, you never know what kind of crap they can throw at you when you sell online. Too many variables and unknowns.

plus if you're in Cali, do you really need anywhere else in the world for customers? LOL

I think it's this bit that is important with that

What the head shop have had to do for years if someone says the word Bong, they have to leave, because they don't sell bongs, they sell tabacco smoking water pipes.

Don't know it's still there, but was the oldest head shop in the US was in Van Nuys California and it was called Heads And Highs, the court made them change the name to H and H, that place was cool if you knew the owner or the staff, they had a second room where they would have after hour parties with local bands

Can you use exemption (1) and have the manufacturer do the distribution?

Hmmm.... so, as long as you're making something with legal intent you're okay? I wonder what you need to CYA in that regard... maybe just some sort of mission statement or policy or something like most use in conjunction with a solid disclaimer about specifically being for tobacco use or whatever, and a notice that using [it] for illegal drugs is, well, illegal.

?

Since we are going to Brand these pipes, would say selling to vendors is something I need to address. Give a wholesale price.

I probably could
Dude, be careful, you're sounding like congress

Honestly Vend, I'd love to break into that biz too... and California is a great place for it.... it just seems too risky to me. You know as soon as you open shop, all eyes will be upon you. And some that you may not want looking... like the DEA. :2 cents:

If you are working with a glass blower and are looking to expand past glass sex toys and pipes maybe look into doing gauged earrings:

http://www.bodyartforms.com/gallery/...AF%20005_2.JPG

Prices range based on the piece and complexity. I know I drop like $60 - 70 bucks on a good set of glass like the one pictured.

Its safe, legal & there's a market. :2 cents:

Going to talk about this with my partner, if we can get the wholesaler to ship with our branding, it would benifit both of us.
I would love to design some water pipes and sex toys, call it the Vendzilla Line, LMAO

the shop we have in mind would be selling a lot of main stream goods online. Put our branding on it and go from there. Briana is a model for a big clothing company and we're going to talk to them as well. Jewelery would fit with that really good, thanx. Hit me up if you see the earrings on the site some day that you want, I'll send you a pair

How hard can it be to become an expert glass-blower? I can probably pick up a couple books on it and learn over the weekend. Then we could team up and brand that shit any way you want. :)

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh those cost $12-$17 around here

I was into welding, so I already had the torches. So I got some glass tubes and rods and rigged up some copper tubes and had some fun for a couple weeks. It's truely an artist that does it right, but for a little hobby, it was fun for about two weeks

oops.. wrong pic

Here is a $3700 dollar Roor custom:

http://www.everyonedoesit.com/img/pr...royalty_t1.jpg
[LINKHOTTEN]

EDIT

:rasta

no risk, no reward :thumbsup
obviously there is a reason why there is 1000% markup on that stuff :2 cents:

Where the seller is physically located and, very importantly, where the buyer is located matters.

Read up on Operation Pipe Dreams. Ie. Avoid selling such products to people seeking to order from western Pennsylvania, as well as various other numerous locations. Many adult sites utilize location blocklists (usually as a list of zipcodes to avoid) - using those same lists may be worthwhile, at least to start out, despite selling a very different product.

Ron

you just need brochure, maybe free samples, and drop them off at the dispensaries and clinics. If you are manufacturing and live in LA I'd scrap the internet sales altogether. Word of mouth is way better, people spend way more money on those items in head shops than they ever would online. Design a nice display and packaging for the shops, its the little silly things that will move a product like that. Yeah, creative hard branding is good with stoners.

plus there is a huge boom of cannabis publications right now in LA. Put some ads in there, mention where to buy your product and make a deal with the shops you're selling to equals success.

Oaksterdam offers a course at its Oakland campus :winkwink:

These Roors must be made by a machine or something somehow... they are too perfect in every way. How would a human be able to hand-make something so precise like the laboratory glass they're selling?

The Ice/Meth pipes you want to sell, and help kill people, can be found at any local mom and pop convenience store. Just ask for the "incense burners" behind the counter.

nice I need to do something with WeAreStoner.com hit me up

man did that little flower in a crack pipe give you the idea :1orglaugh there just dildo's with 2 holes :1orglaugh just kidding man was funny i almost fell out of my seat!