Pipes, Paraphernalia, and Smokeables

located on the corner adjacent from the west hollywood gateway (best buy, target, etc) stands what used to be a news stand. of course there was plenty of porn for sale but there were newspapers and magazines that contained information and knowledge. in its place is a retailer of cigarettes, crack pipes, rolling papers/​blunt wraps, 2^nd rate bongs, and numerous other illict substance delivery devices. i know this because not only have i driven by multiple times but also because i took a friend there who needed something to put his yey in.
he was like ‘i need something to put this in’ and i said ‘i know just the place.’ when i say friend i mean ‘not me’ because yey makes me feel like i’m getting pushed around by a little person. but i’m like, ‘hey quit pushing me around!‘
i wonder what it says about the state of the neighborhood – my neighborhood – when a news stand has to close up and transform into a vendor of stuff that will facillitate getting people high. are drugs really that much more profitable than porn? since when is it ok to be selling this stuff on the street where any kid can walk past? or has the standard been moved ever since those little glass tubes with fake silk flowers in them are for sale on every corner?
i suppose its just easier to get high than it is to read about what’s wrong in the world.