Pubdate: Mon, 08 Nov 2004 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2004 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Jim Beatty, CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations B.C. CONSIDERS REGULATING HYDROPONIC EQUIPMENT TO BATTLE MARIJUANA GROWERS Solicitor-General Rich Coleman says the B.C. government may regulate stores selling hydroponic equipment as a way of cracking down on the marijuana trade. Officials are studying a proposed law that would force hydroponic equipment sellers to keep a registry of their buyers -- which could then be forwarded to police, he told a B.C. Liberal convention in Whistler. "It might focus people's minds a bit more," he argued, speculating the registry would be similar to regulations facing Vancouver pawn shops, which have electronic links to police tracking property crimes. B.C. Liberals voted overwhelmingly to get tough with marijuana growers by regulating hydroponics. Not everyone supports the strategy. "Let's stop fighting a war that we can't win," said one delegate, who argued B.C. Liberals are moving in the wrong direction -- especially as the feds consider decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin