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.