# Lab Glassware Illegal To Own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424 "2013-10-16T18:32:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/1 "2013-10-16T18:32:50Z")
I live in Indiana. At a yard sale, I found some really cool lab glassware that would make great rooting containers for houseplants, not to mention cool looking vases! I figured for .50 each, I’d get them. I came home, and told my husband about them, and he just about had a fit. He said that lab glassware is illegal to own. I can’t find much about it, other than for Texas. Is my husband right about this? Should I bust 'em up, and put them out with the trash, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/2 "2013-10-16T18:34:49Z")
If true, then I suppose that a legitimate lab (such as in a high school) would need some sort of permit or license for them. Never heard of such a thing, but who knows? ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/3 "2013-10-16T18:45:31Z")
I’ve never heard of it, either. The ones I got were big, round flasks, with three necks coming off the top. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/4 "2013-10-16T18:46:22Z")
Also, [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_6?url=search-alias%3Dindustrial&field-keywords=erlenmeyer+flasks&sprefix=Erhlen%2Caps%2C357) would be in big trouble… ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/5 "2013-10-16T18:47:55Z")
Most places, the glassware is legal to own. A few places have restrictions. I know Texas does, Illinois may also. Nothing to worry about if you’ve got flowers in a 3-neck flask, you aren’t going to be arrested for it. And for goodness sakes, don’t destroy that stuff. Sell it on eBay. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/6 "2013-10-16T18:48:20Z")
[Recent previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=703606). And the idea makes no sense to me. You certainly don’t need real lab glassware to make meth, and it’s useful for other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/7 "2013-10-16T18:49:37Z")
I suppose it’s possible that some jurisdiction somewhere might consider it to be “drug paraphernalia,” for cooking meth or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/8 "2013-10-16T18:51:39Z")
Some states have restrictions on certain glasswares due to their utility in drug production. If you are concerned, I’d recommend contacting your local government to see if you can get a bye. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/9 "2013-10-16T18:52:17Z")
No part of the Drug War makes sense, nor ever has. It’s all about generating income for police and prisons. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/10 "2013-10-16T19:15:01Z")
Even if they are illegal, nobody is going to be breaking down your door and hauling you away for possession. Go ahead and plant. Does it look like [this](http://www.ctechglass.com/ctech-fl0154012-p-75.html)? ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/11 "2013-10-16T19:29:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Even if they are illegal, nobody is going to be breaking down your door and hauling you away for possession. Go ahead and plant. > > Does it look like [this](http://www.ctechglass.com/ctech-fl0154012-p-75.html)? Sort of. The ones I have are much more bulbous, and they’re 200ml. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/12 "2013-10-16T19:30:57Z")
Thank you, everyone, for your replies! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/13 "2013-10-16T19:38:38Z")
When I was a kid, I bought all kinds of labware at the hobby shop. When I was homeschooling my daughter eight or ten years ago, I went into a school supply store that stocked a lot of stuff for homeschoolers, and they had tons of flasks, beakers, and other accoutrements. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/14 "2013-10-16T19:40:55Z")
I buy lab ware for my business online and dont know of any laws against it. There _may_ be illegal _uses_ for it, but it not illegal in and of itself AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/15 "2013-10-16T19:43:06Z")
Ok. Thank you **GWR** , and **SerafinaPekala**. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/16 "2013-10-16T19:55:12Z")
Ballpoint pens can be used for forging checks, too, so if I were you, I’d keep my supply of PaperMates where I can flush them down the toilet easily. Apparently, Texas does list the glassware as “precursors” to crime. Even Adapter Tubes are on the list: [http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/regulatoryservices/narcotics/narcprecursor.htm](http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/regulatoryservices/narcotics/narcprecursor.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/17 "2013-10-16T20:01:10Z")
So in Texas you can be arrested for attempted chemistry? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/18 "2013-10-16T20:08:35Z")
Dang! I’ve always wanted a “Frankenstein’s Lab” goofy pseudo-chem set-up with lots of bubbling red and green liquids circulating through tubes. Just for appearances, not for anything real. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/19 "2013-10-16T20:47:56Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Dang! I’ve always wanted a “Frankenstein’s Lab” goofy pseudo-chem set-up with lots of bubbling red and green liquids circulating through tubes. Just for appearances, not for anything real. Get into the marine aquarium hobby. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424/20 "2013-10-16T21:27:18Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Dang! I’ve always wanted a “Frankenstein’s Lab” goofy pseudo-chem set-up with lots of bubbling red and green liquids circulating through tubes. Just for appearances, not for anything real. Legal in California. Let me recommend a Soxhlet extractor. You can use blue dye in the cold side and red in the hot side. Set it up to cycle over and over like a kinetic sculpture. With the right solvent it could be solar powered. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lab-glassware-illegal-to-own/671424.md?page=2)