Successful prosecution finds business owner guilty of displaying bongs for sale
In the Bundaberg Magistrate’s Court, a local business owner has been found guilty of displaying and selling bongs and components of bongs for sale, following a successful prosecution by the Wide Bay Public Health Unit.
The Magistrate imposed a fine of $7,000 and ordered the business to pay costs of the prosecution in the amount of $2,500, for displaying and selling the bongs and components of bongs in a shop in Bundaberg.
Bongs and components of bongs are classed as prohibited products under the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 (TOSPA) as they are capable of being used to administer a dangerous drug, namely cannabis.
“In March 2019, Public Health Unit officers executed a warrant at a Bundaberg business and seized in excess of 600 items which included bongs and components of bongs which were displayed in contravention to Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998,” Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Director of Public Health Dr Niall Conroy said.
“During the case, the defense argued that these seized items were either vases, oil pourers, salad dresser and/or used to smoke herbs or tobacco.
“This was argument rejected by the Magistrate in light of the expert evidence by a former Queensland Drug Squad detective who stated that the balance of the items were either bongs or the components of bongs.”
On top of the fine, seized items worth about $15,000 were forfeited to the Queensland Government.
For further information on Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act prohibited products, visit https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/atod/tobacco-laws
For further information on medical cannabis, visit https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/medicinal-cannabis
