Apple Baggies/Coin Holders Gets Shop Shut Down

Last week, in a criminally underreported story, Northeast Philadelphia headshop Artifax was raided by the police and shut down. Two employees were arrested.

This seems similar to the events last year when Spencer’s in Bucks County was raided by the police for selling bongs and marijuana t-shirts. Officers made the raid after buying “apple baggies,” which the cops consider drug paraphernalia, even though they were marked as “coin holders.” (Yeah, I’m a little confused on all fronts here.)

But that’s not all!:

Artifax has been in business at the same location at least since 1982. A city business permit issued that year itemizes what the shop was allowed to sell, including pipes, bongs, tobacco products, pipe screens, scales, magazines, apparel and gifts. The document includes “drug paraphernalia” among the permitted items for sale.

Although the business permit was still valid at the time of the raid, it is unclear whether L&I defines “drug paraphernalia” in the same context that police define the term.

That’s right! L&I somehow gave them a permit allowing them to sell drug paraphernalia. At least in name. I love this city.

Police think NE ‘head shop’ was one toke over the line [Northeast Times]