Bans on drug item sales to juveniles are upheld

March 4, 1982

The Supreme Court ruled 8 to 0 that local governments may ban the sale of drug-related accessories to juveniles.

The justices upheld a much-debated ordinance, enacted by the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, Ill., which prohibits ''head shops'' - stores that offer drug paraphernalia - from selling such items to minors. At least 10 states and scores of cities have passed antiparaphernalia ordinances that generally seek to put head shops out of business.