Pubdate: Mon, 08 Nov 2004 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Jim Beatty / The Vancouver Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) B.C. CONSIDERS HYDROPONICS CRACKDOWN WHISTLER, B.C. - Solicitor General Rich Coleman says the B.C. government is considering regulating stores that sell hydroponic equipment as a way of cracking down on the marijuana trade. Mr. Coleman said his 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. "It might focus people's minds a bit more," Mr. Coleman said following a debate at the B.C. Liberal convention at this mountainside resort. The proposed registry would be similar to the regulations facing Vancouver pawn shops, which now have electronic links to police tracking property crimes, he said. But not everyone supported getting tough on drugs. Victoria chartered accountant Alastair Murdoch said the party is moving in the wrong direction, especially when the the federal government is considering decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. "I don't know why we're going down this path when ... the federal government is moving the opposite direction. It has finally woken up to the fact that you can't win this war -- you cannot win the war on drugs," Mr. Murdoch told Liberal delegates. Although B.C. Liberals strongly supported tough new marijuana laws, the party's views are not binding on government but may influence government policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager