Bong water is back at the Minnesota Capitol
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 8:24 am
- 8 Comments
Nothing brings together Republicans and DFLers at the Minnesota Capitol like bong water. A new bipartisan bill would exclude a specific amount of water from a bong, or water pipe, from the weight of drugs calculated when someone is charged with possession. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a similar bill last year after legislators overwhelmingly passed the measure in response to a high profile Minnesota Supreme Court case.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that because Minnesota’s drug laws are vague, bong water could be added when measuring the weight of drugs in an accused person’s possession. The threshold for considering bong water is 25 grams, or just under one ounce.
Under the proposed bill, sponsored by three Republicans and three Democrats, law enforcement could not consider less than 4 ounces or close to 100 grams.
The bill reads, “the weight of fluid used in a water pipe may not be considered in measuring the weight of a mixture except in cases where the mixture contains four or more fluid ounces of fluid.”
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis; Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder; Steve Smith, R-Mound; Debra Hilstrom, DFL-Brooklyn Center; Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul; Greg Davids, R-Preston.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter8 Comments
Comment posted February 15, 2011 @ 8:37 am
Sweet Jesus in a flaming birch bark canoe. How are Republicans acting so sensible? Maybe there is hope.
Pingback posted February 15, 2011 @ 11:15 am
[...] I can’t believe are issues, Minnesota Independent tells us about a bipartisan bill that will limit the amount of bong water than can be used to determine weight in a drug possession charge. The bill reads, “the weight of [...]
Comment posted February 15, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
I guess I am not sure why it is illegal? Bipartisanship on a waste of money and a waste of time.
Comment posted February 15, 2011 @ 5:54 pm
Duuuudes!! Just flush the Bong water when your done smokin’
Comment posted February 26, 2011 @ 12:32 am
Duuuude, that would be drug abuse! Don’t pour it out, drink it
Comment posted April 4, 2011 @ 2:31 am
This is just pandering to scare you. I don’t know what possible good it can do our state to make a felony out of a petty charge… but be careful not to have a measuring cup in the car as well because they may try to catch you on intent to distribute bong water :P
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