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.