Governor Bev Perdue has signed a bill that will regulate the sale of glass stems.

Some community activists say drug users can turn those stems into paraphernalia for meth, heroin or crack.

Durham community activist Melvin Whitley pushed for regulation of "The rose in a glass" since 2006. That's when he started urging his city government to ban the small novelty sold in some convenience stores.

"When [drug users] start using the glass stem, that's when they became really addicted," he said when Representative Hilton introduced House Bill 722 back in March. "These glass stems are only sold in drug-infested neighborhoods and they're sold for $4 ... but the retailer pays $0.18."

"They're making money off of people's misery."

The bill passed with no opposition in Raleigh.

Part of it reads:
"Glass tubes or splitters shall not be offered for retail sale by self-service, but shall be stored and sold from behind a counter where the general public cannot access them without the assistance of a retailer's agent or employee."

Starting Dec. 1, retailers will require buyers of the potential paraphernalia to:

• Present a photo ID that includes the person's name and current address.
• Enter his or her name and current address on a record that the retailer keeps on hand to track these items.
• Sign his or her name, verifying by signature the glass tube or splitter will not be used as drug paraphernalia in violation of the criminal laws of the State of North Carolina.

Both retailers and buyers face misdemeanor charges if a court finds them guilty of breaking the new law.

Read House Bill 722
Read more about why Representative Hilton introduced the bill