Judge won't block new Moorhead drug ordinance

A federal judge has refused to block enforcement of a new Moorhead ordinance outlawing drug paraphernalia.

Attorneys for a shop that sells tobacco, pipes and other products had asked for an order to keep police from enforcing the ordinance.

But Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis denied the request Wednesday.

Davis ruled that the Discontent shop failed to prove it would suffer irreparable harm under the ordinance.

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In the lawsuit, Discontent and its owner, Disc & Tape, say the pipes and other devices it sells are intended to be used to smoke tobacco and other legal herbs.

Discontent closed on Jan. 10, the day the ordinance went into effect, out of fear that employees would be arrested.

A message left for Discontent's attorney was not immediately returned Wednesday evening.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)