Chicago Looks to Ban Baggies

[Charon]

No, this is not from The Onion.

City may ban little baggies
COUNCIL | They're 'Marketing 101' for drug dealers, cop says

March 5, 2008
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

Tiny plastic bags used to sell small quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs would be banned in Chicago, under a crackdown advanced Tuesday by a City Council committee.

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) persuaded the Health Committee to ban possession of "self-sealing plastic bags under two inches in either height or width," after picking up 15 of the bags on a recent Sunday afternoon stroll through a West Side park.

Lt. Kevin Navarro, commanding officer of the Chicago Police Department's Narcotics and Gang Unit, said the ordinance will be an "important tool" to go after grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The bags are used by the thousand to sell small quantities of drugs at $10 or $20 a bag.

Navarro referred to the plastic bags as "Marketing 101 for the drug dealers." Many of them have symbols, allowing drug users to ask for "Superman" or "Blue Dolphin" instead of the drug itself, he said.

Prior to the final vote, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) expressed concern about arresting innocent people. He noted that extra buttons that come with suits, shirts and blouses -- and jewelry that's been repaired -- come in similar plastic bags.

Burnett was reassured by language that states "one reasonably should know that such items will be or are being used" to package, transfer, deliver or store a controlled substance. Violators would be punished by a $1,500 fine.

Health Committee Chairman Ed Smith (28th) said the ban is part of a desperate effort to stop what he called "the most destructive force" in Chicago neighborhoods.

"We need to use every measure that we possibly can to stop it because it is destroying our kids," he said.

"Every effort" except the politically risky move of addressing the issue head on. But, the appearance of "doing something" while actually doing nothing at all is Good Enough for Government Work.

Charon

[NUKE]

That's insane.

[Rich46yo]

                        These are tiny, little itty bitty bags used for nothing then selling rocks with. Were not talking "baggies" from the food store. Inner city gas stations sell them knowing they only have one use. That and "roses", which is a little bitty plastic tube, with a little fabric rose flower in it, that the junkies use to smoke rocks out of. Supposedly the maker markets them as decorative but everyone knows they only have one use.

                      Banning the crap will have no impact. The gangs will just adjust and find somthing else.

[trax1]

I live here in Chicago and use to be a drug user, I can tell you that almost all heroin or crack sold here do come in these small self seal baggies that have symbols on them that different gangs use to identify there brand, like blue devils, green aliens, batman and so on.  I always wondered where they got them and what could possible be a legal use for them, but the only thing banning the baggies will do is make it harder the user to know what brand of drug he's getting, it wont stop or prevent the sale because they usually also come wrapped in tin foil then put in the small baggy.

[trax1]

                        That and "roses", which is a little bitty plastic tube, with a little fabric rose flower in it, that the junkies use to smoke rocks out of. Supposedly the maker markets them as decorative but everyone knows they only have one use.

They have banned the sale of those here in Chicago already, but you can still find stores that sell them.

[texasmom]

I use them to separate beads. Also use them to separate sewing needles between sizes.
Tiny baggies are good for more than just drugs.

[bongaroo]

or like the rest of the country they will all just start using sandwich baggies.

oh noes the drugs are ruining everyones lives!!!!111one!1

[trax1]

I use them to separate beads. Also use them to separate sewing needles between sizes.
Tiny baggies are good for more than just drugs.

I think these might be different then you use, I think they're too small to hold more then maybe 2 beads, there usually about 1in by 1in, and they have symbols on them.  They usually sell these at head shops.

[texasmom]

I think these might be different then you use, I think they're too small to hold more then maybe 2 beads, there usually about 1in by 1in, and they have symbols on them.  They usually sell these at head shops.

Yep, I think those are about the same size. I think mine are probably 1X2 inches.
Most of the beads I keep sorted by larger categories, but I use the tiny baggies to set aside beads when I have a particular bookmark in mind for them. Google "book thong."  I make those, and often set aside just a few beads.

[Jackal1]

Health Committee Chairman Ed Smith (28th) said the ban is part of a desperate effort to stop what he called "the most destructive force" in Chicago neighborhoods.

Just as an outsider`s point of view I would say that the most destructive force in Chicago would be the morons who came up with such an idiotic idea and tried to pass it off as viable.

[trax1]

Just as an outsider`s point of view I would say that the most destructive force in Chicago would be the morons who came up with such an idiotic idea and tried to pass it off as viable.

I think it can't hurt, gives the cops another thing to charge people dealing and using with, like I said just about every dealer in Chicago uses them, I'd say atleast 90%.

[Hawker25]

im sorry but this is a political stunt  designed to look like they are doing something.  It will have zero effect on drug use if anything it will just be another charge to tack on when somebody gets caught.  On the west coast if you go to an area that heroin or crack use is heavy you will see balloons littering the street cause that is what it is packaged in there.  So instead of getting to the root of the problem i.e. our drug policies have failed and will continue to do so until we truly address the problem, then we will continue to have stupid sound bites like this come out of politicians mouths.

[Jackal1]

I think it can't hurt, gives the cops another thing to charge people dealing and using with, like I said just about every dealer in Chicago uses them, I'd say atleast 90%.

One day the earth will be inherited by the naive......................an d quickly lost.

[NUKE]

The quotes says that it will be a "tool" to "go after" grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The item being sold is not illegal, yet they are making possession of it illegal just because drug dealers use it.

By that same logic, would Chicago be justified in banning every other item or service that drug dealers use? Maybe ban cell phones if it can be proven that drug dealers use them to help make sales.

Think about it. The people who helped pass this law are amazing. And the part..."one reasonably should know that such items will be or are being used" is pretty scary to me.

[Charon]

The quotes says that it will be a "tool" to "go after" grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The item being sold is not illegal, yet they are making possession of it illegal just because drug dealers use it.

One additional purpose might be to generate extra revenue. I'm sure there will be some hefty fines involved.

One of the main motivations when I moved out of the city were the "hidden taxes." The excessive real taxes, and city stickers and the pass along taxes you paid eating in a restaurant were bad enough. But, Chicago made it real easy to break the law and pay the fine. For example, a street may have  parking regulations (time of day, etc.) yet not have them clearly posted on every block of a street.

There was always someone reaching into your pocket.

Charon