Minnesota Supreme Court says bong water can count as an illegal drug
By Steve Karnowski, APThursday, October 22, 2009
Minn. court: Bong water can count as illegal drug
MINNEAPOLIS — In Minnesota, bong water can count as an illegal drug.
That decision from Minnesota’s Supreme Court on Thursday raises the threat of longer sentences for drug smokers in that state who fail to dump the water out of bong — a type of water pipe often used to smoke drugs
The court said a person can be prosecuted for a first-degree drug crime for 25 grams or more of bong water that tests positive for a controlled substance.
Lower courts had held that bong water is drug paraphernalia. Possession of that is a misdemeanor crime.
The case involved a woman whose bong had about 2½ tablespoons of liquid that tested positive for methamphetamine. A narcotics officer had testified that drug users sometimes keep bong water to drink or inject later.
