Legality

Bongs are frequently sold in head shops and on the Internet. In the United States, under the Federal medicine Paraphernalia decree, which is part of the forbidden Substances Act, it is illegal to sell, convey through the mail, move crossways state lines, import, or export drug paraphernalia. Nonetheless, the sale of bongs is tolerated as are other general reason smoking tools for tobacco use.

In countries where marijuana and hashish are illegal, some retailers identify that bongs are future for use with tobacco in an effort to skirt laws against selling drug paraphernalia. While technically 'bong' does not mean a device used for smoking marijuana, drug-related connotations have been shaped with the word itself. Due to these connotations, some head shops will not serve customers who use the word "bong".