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Teen Talk: Parenting Tip from Parker PD ... Visit a Head Shop

By Josh Hans, Public Relations/PIO, Parker Police Department February 13, 2019


Okay, we know it sounds strange and it's a place many of us have never been, but it is a great idea for parents of teens to visit a head shop, look around, and ask questions.

It's been a few years since we were teens, and a lot has changed. That item in your son's or daughter's bedroom may look harmless, until you learn what it truly is.





Today's vape apparatuses are made to look like a USB charger, cell phone, iPod, or other harmless item. Familiarizing yourself with these items and asking questions is your best line of defense as a parent. By law, head shops can only sell these items to people who are at least 18 years old. That doesn't mean teens can't get these items from an older friend or via the Internet.





Containers designed to hide paraphernalia are made to look, and sound, very real. If you shake the salt or lemonade canisters, it sounds like there is salt or lemonade granules inside. 

And how real do the Coke and Mountain Dew cans look? The empty can in your teen's room is probably just them being too lazy to take it to the trash. However, you need to be sure. Pick those cans up and try to twist the bottom and top. You'll quickly discover whether or not there is a hidden storage area.

As marijuana laws have changed, local police officers have also had to educate themselves about new products and paraphernalia. You may feel uneasy walking into a head shop, but it's a lot better than not knowing what may be going on in your own home.

For more information, call the non-emergency phone number for your local police department.

  • Castle Rock Police Department: (303) 663-6100
  • Lone Tree Police Department: (303) 799-0533
  • Parker Police Department: (303) 841-9800
  • Douglas County Sheriff – Highlands Ranch Substation: (303) 784-7800