A bill being considered by the Minnesota Senate would substantially toughen the state's stance on drug paraphernalia including bongs and hand pipes.

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The St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer-Press said the new legislation from Republican State Sen. Amy Koch proposes the state stop legalizing the sale of such paraphernalia under the guise of tobacco use.

The senator from the city of Buffalo said despite the legal designation, such tools are clearly oriented towards drug use.

"We recognize that you can smoke pot out of a pop can, an apple, a light bulb," Koch said. "We're going after the bongs."

Yet the proposed bill has frightened many Minnesota store owners, who see the legislation as a first step towards the government determining what represents drug use.

"It's just a freedom thing," Keith Covart, who owns a Minneapolis music store, told the paper. "Can you smoke a cigarette and not be arrested? Where are we going?"