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"Bong Bill" Clears House Panel

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4/AP) — The push to outlaw popular marijuana pipes known as "bongs" has cleared another House panel.

The House Judiciary committee approved a bill (HB 49) unanimously on Tuesday. An amendment also passed exempting traditional wooden pipes.

State law allows certain retailers to sell the pipes if at least 75 percent of their sales come from tobacco products or they have no more than 25 percent of "certain drug paraphernalia" sales. The bill eliminates that exception and makes any sale a first-degree misdemeanor. Second and subsequent violations would jump to a third-degree felony.

Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg is the bill sponsor. He said the House bill has passed four committees with only one "no" vote.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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