These laws seem weird.

[WeRQ4U]

In North Dakota, it is a more severe crime, and therefore the penalty is stiffer, for possession of drug paraphernalia than it is for possession of the actual controlled substance.

All kidding aside, why is that? I'm trying to rack my brain thinking of a legitimate reasons for having the seemingly more innocuous crime associated with a stiffer penalty. I can't figure any out.

[leftofthedial]

1. money probably was involved somewhere

in whatever corrupt process made that a law

[GOPisEvil]

2. The paraphernalia is more permanent.

It shows a longer pattern of use, I suppose.

[WeRQ4U]

3. I thought about that....

But that's a fairly large assumption to make. I don't smoke dope or snort crank, but if I DID, wouldn't I need to use something to do it?

I thought maybe it showed a level of sophistication justifying a stiffer punishment, until I learned that baggies and the like are paraphernalia as well. I jsut don't get it.

[ChickMagic]

4. That's probably it

They didn't catch them with the substance, but they can prove use with residue.

Oh, and speaking of weird laws:

Texas

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home. A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed. In El Paso, churches, hotels, halls of assembly, stores, markets, banking rooms, railroad depots, and saloons are required to provide spittoons "of a kind and number to efficiently contain expectorations into them." It is illegal to milk another person's cow. In Houston, it is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday. In LeFors, it is illegal to take more than three swallows of beer while standing. In San Antonio, it is illegal for both sexes to flirt or respond to flirtation using the eyes and/or hands. In Mesquite, it is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts. In Kingsville, there is a law against two pigs having sex on the city's airport property.

[WeRQ4U]

5. So they're essentially punishing for two crimes instead of one?

It's compounded then if someone is caught with both. That's not right either.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. What if that bong really *is* used for smoking tobacco?

:P

[WeRQ4U]

7. LOL. Yeah right.

Either way, to be guilty of having drug paraphernalia, they usually find some type fo residue or byproduct.