Abbeville councilman wants to ban drug paraphernalia from being sold

Synthetic marijuana has been a highlighted issue recently, with many law enforcement agencies warning of its dangers.
The sale of synthetic marijuana is illegal in Louisiana.
Abbeville Councilman-at-large Francis Plaisance said he would like to see the same designation for drug paraphernalia.
“I would like to see an ordinance that would forbid any business in the city from selling any drug paraphernalia,” Plaisance said. “That’s occurring in our city and I think we need to put a stop to it, if at all possible.”
Plaisance requested during Tuesday’s regular council meeting that City Attorney Ike Funderburk draft an ordinance to present to the ordinance committee. Plaisance said he hopes to present the ordinance at a committee meeting on Jan. 6.
“I want to pursue this aggressively,” Plaisance said.
The reasons are simple, he said.
“We are experiencing drug problems in the area,” Plaisance said. “In particular, synthetic marijuana is an issue. It’s a very serious issue and there are kids dying from it.
“Drug paraphernalia just encourages the use of drugs and I don’t think these items should be sold in our city.”
Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said he is in support of the potential move.
“I am 100 percent in favor of this,” Hardy said Wednesday morning. “I think it is something that encourages drug use.”
Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon agreed.
“Any items or precursors that encourage illegal activities should be stopped if possible,” Couvillon said. “If the city can pass this ordinance we will certainly enforce it.”
Drug paraphernalia is described as any tool designed to inhale or ingest drugs into the human body.
“You can call it what you want to and they have different names for all of this stuff,” Hardy said. “It is still drug paraphernalia. People say they use it for other things.
“It’s drug paraphernalia.”
Plaisance said he has received positive responses from others.
“I have spoken to several officials in the area,” Plaisance said. “They all agree that this is a very serious issue. One told me that it is almost out of control.
“I think it is a step in the right direction to at least outlaw the sale of anything that encourages the use of drugs.”