Pubdate: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2010 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Heather Polischuk POLICE RETURN SEIZED GEAR Police recently had to return marijuana-growth equipment they seized from a licensed producer during a large drug bust in southern Saskatchewan in early December. Alida resident Darcy Germain, 41, was one of 28 people arrested as part of a lengthy police investigation that targeted drug trafficking in Estevan and surrounding areas. Germain - who says he grows and uses marijuana for chronic pain - was charged with two counts of drug trafficking. He isn't facing charges in relation to drug production, which is why an Estevan Provincial Court judge agreed on March 8 to issue an order for the return of Germain's property, said the Estevan lawyer who represented Germain at that court appearance. "There were documents prepared, but they were never referred to in court because the Crown consented (to the property being returned) .," Lori Dunford said. "It's because he has a licence and hasn't been charged with anything in relation to that licence. What he had was not evidence for what they're alleging he's done, so it has nothing to do with the Crown's case." Germain said police had to return lights, fans and air pumps, as well as his doctor-signed "grow licence." Dunford said there wasn't any argument from the Crown on the return of Germain's property. While Germain said he was pleased with the decision, he's not completely satisfied - police also seized and destroyed the 13 plants he'd spent a long time growing. "They destroyed three years of work of my life, like through the cloning process and selective breeding and that sort of thing, and they destroyed everything and I now have to start right from scratch again .," he said. "I'm in the process of growing again, but they set me back six months." Germain's worried he might also have lost his shot at renewing his annual licence come September. The doctor who'd been signing his licences for the past five years is no longer around, meaning Germain has to find someone else - something he admits might not be easy with criminal charges hanging over his head. Germain is expected to reappear in Estevan court this week on his charges. A trial date hasn't yet been set. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D