What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Bongs: Should Florida Outlaw Them?

A law that would make it illegal to sell the long, glass pipes commonly used for smoking marijuana recently sailed over a hurdle in the Florida House. We’d like to get your take on the issue, Tampa Bay!

Florida marijuana users who prefer to take a hit off a bong rather than a toke off a joint may soon find their favorite paraphernalia hard to come by. A bill that would ban the sale of bongs in the state has cleared the House’s Business and Professional Regulation subcommittee, according to The Tampa Tribune. If the bill, sponsored by St. Petersburg Democrat Rep. Darryl Rouson, makes it to the governor’s desk and is signed, it would become illegal for retailers to sell bongs of any kind. Right now, Florida law allows stores to sell the tools of the marijuana-smoking trade if at least 75 percent of their sales come from tobacco products. Rouson, who describes himself as a reformed drug addict, told the Tribune he wants to “take away the …

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St. Pete Gets Silent Treatment From Sweetbay

City leaders and the landlord of the Midtown Sweetbay property have not heard directly from Sweetbay regarding the closure of the store.

Walk through the Sweetbay grocery store in the Tangerine Shopping Plaza, at 22nd Street and 18th Avenue South. There is row after row of empty shelves, where once there were fresh foods.  Fresh vegetables are nearly gone, as are the meats. The deli is empty. There is no milk. And, there appears to be no plans by Sweetbay to restock its shelves. The store is quickly going out of business. On Jan. 16, Sweetbay announced it would close three 'underperforming' St. Petersburg stores by mid-February, part of a consolidation of stores across Florida. St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and city leaders gathered outside the Sweetbay today to urge the The Delhaize Group, the parent company of Sweetbay, to reconsider ... or at least come to the table…

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