The Ontario Safety League has launched a public campaign to halt the illegal sale of drug paraphernalia in corner stores across the province.

“Over the past few months we have noticed the growing trend of convenience stores openly selling and promoting drug paraphernalia, items like pipes, (pill) grinders and related paraphernalia,” Brian Patterson, president and CEO of the Safety League, told a Queen’s Park news conference Monday.

He was joined by Monte Kwinter, MPP for York Centre and former Liberal community safety minister, and Marc Paris, executive director, Partnership for a Drug Free Canada.

Patterson noted that it is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada to sell drug paraphernalia and urged convenience store operators to stop selling these items, which the Ontario Safety League’s mystery shoppers found for sale.

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“All of these items were displayed prominently, often at the point of sale next to gum and candy and lottery tickets and the like at neighbourhood corner stores in Toronto, Newmarket, Aurora, Mississauga, Brampton, Windsor, London, St. Catharines, Guelph, Cornwall and Ottawa,” he told reporters.

The Ontario Safety League is circulating a petition asking the public to report any convenience stores selling inappropriate drug paraphernalia in their neighbourhood.

“Let’s be perfectly clear, the pipes, the grinders and the bongs for sale in these stores are clearly intended for smoking illegal drugs like hash, marijuana, crack cocaine or using OxyContin,” he said, noting that some store owners try to get around the law by putting up “for tobacco use only” signs.

Toronto Police Services spokesman Tony Vella said “while we are supportive (of the campaign) the challenge is . . . to prove that the paraphernalia is being used exclusively for illicit drugs” before charges can be laid.

Patterson said he doesn’t believe that store owners understand “there are significant consequences to selling this drug paraphernalia.”

Sections 462.2 of Canada’s Criminal Code states: “Every one who knowingly imports into Canada, exports from Canada, manufactures, promotes or sells instruments or literature for illicit drug use is guilty of an offence” carrying a fine of up to $100,000 or six months in jail or both on first offence.

Dave Bryans, CEO of Ontario Convenience Stores Association, told the Toronto Star he was the first person to sign the petition.

“We don’t condone it . . . and we would encourage customers not to shop in these types of stores if that activity doesn’t stop,” Bryans said, adding that he doesn’t believe the sale of drug paraphernalia is widespread.

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Kwinter noted that the neighbourhood stores are often a hub for children “and that’s why the corner store is the last place you would want to find the tools used to smoke illegal drugs.”

“The use of illegal drugs is associated with so many social ills: addiction, violence and crime,” he said, encouraging Ontarians to sign the petition.

Paris said the campaign highlights how easy it is to access prescription drugs “because the new source of drugs for kids is the household medicine cabinet now. Grinders and all of this paraphernalia is exactly what we are trying to avoid.”