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'Pipe Dreams' probe could benefit locals By Jennifer Nitson Ashland Daily Tidings When Mike Welch, owner of Puff's Magazines and Fine Tobacco, heard of last week's nationwide raids on glass-blowing manufacturers and distributors by the Drug Enforcement Administration he picked up the phone and called national distributor Hot Comet Enterprises to see if it was true. "I got a Department of Justice guy in the middle of a raid," Welch said. "He said 'Yep, it's true.'" Citing the explosion of drug paraphernalia sales on the Internet, a multi-million dollar industry, the raids are part of what Attorney General John Ashcroft called "decisive steps to dismantle the illegal drug paraphernalia industry by attacking their physical, financial and Internet infrastructures." Among those dismantled by the federal investigations and coordinated busts, called Operation Pipe Dreams, were two Eugene businessmen who operated multiple Web sites, a glass manufacturing company, a distribution company and a retail shop. Fifty-five people nationwide were indicted on Feb. 24 on charges of trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. "These are huge distributors," Welch said. "Some of the ones back east have sales of over $50 million a year. If you're going to make $50 million blowing glass, you'd better get yourself a lawyer." As a legitimate tobacco shop that sells cigarettes, cigars, candy, magazines and glassware - made by local artisans and sold as tobacco implements - Welch said Puff's operates lawfully and that he runs a tight ship. "If anyone says anything about a bong, they're asked to leave," Welch said. "If anyone mentions marijuana or pot they're asked to leave as well." Welch said local tobacco shops such as Puff's need not worry about being targeted by the federal investigations. Barry Sheldahl, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, confirmed that local businesses and artisans are not under investigation. "We probably wouldn't have jurisdiction in that situation," Sheldahl said. "Our case is looking at national trafficking and trafficking across state lines. We are not looking at local artisans." A call to the Jackson County Court Clerk also confirmed that no local search warrants have been issued in relation to Operation Pipe Dreams. Some area glass blowers might be relieved to hear this. According to Welch and Jason Edwards, the owner of the smoke shop Blah Blah Blah which recently opened in the Ashland Underground Marketplace, some of the glass blowers they buy from are getting nervous. The artisans seem reluctant to weigh in on the ramifications of Operation Pipe Dreams. "Nobody wants to talk right now, they're all flipped out," said one local glass blower who declined to be named. "Even if they're legitimate glass blowers that make a pipe on occasion, they worry they'll lose their business because of that." "A lot of glass blowers are scared and concerned but if you are not participating in sales on the Internet or selling products across state lines I don't think there's any reason to be concerned," Edwards said. Welch said that some artisans might actually benefit. "Local glass blowers are going to be better off," Welch said. "They'll be able to get a better price for their stuff." Edwards believes that small retail shops may also benefit from the reduction of Internet competition. "It's been here for so long, and it's an accepted art form and public opinion has been with it for so long," Edwards said. "I could see the smaller shops benefiting." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -