OFFERING HYDROPONIC GROWING ADVICE PERFECTLY LEGAL, SAY POLICE

What his clients want to grow is entirely up to them.

But a Nanaimo man has no qualms about providing information on how to
set up grow operations, using the latest in hydroponic and areoponic
technologies.

Mike, who declined to give his last name, gained his knowledge of
indoor gardens during many years working in the greenhouse business in
Nanaimo, and has been advertising his services online since the middle
of October.

A spokesman for the Nanaimo RCMP said this is the first time he has
ever heard of such a service being offered.

However, Const. Gary O'Brien said he can see nothing illegal in Mike's
ad or his business.

"He's fully in his right to offer these services," O'Brien
said.

"Hydroponic operations are often used to grow organic vegetables and
there's nothing illegal about that."

Mike's ad on Kijiji Nanaimo states "Ever been interested in the
lucrative career of growing? I will walk you through step-by-step the
whole process of building and maintaining a "aaa" grow operation.
"Phone or e-mail for a free consultation. Confidentiality
guaranteed."

He said assisting people set up such operations has become his
full-time job.

"I've found there's a fairly big demand for my services in Nanaimo,"
Mike said.

Although he doesn't ask what his clients intend to grow, Mike said he
anticipates last week's decision by the Federal Court of Appeal,
loosening restrictions on the sale and production of medicinal
marijuana, may create a boom for his new business.

"It's about time the cultivation and sale of marijuana for people
allowed to use it for medical reasons was taken out of the hands of
organized crime," he said.

"If the government can't provide what's needed out there, these people
should be allowed to grow it themselves."

While O'Brien said what Mike is offering isn't illegal, if he knows
the purpose of his clients is to set up illegal marijuana operations
then he may hold some criminal responsibility for the enterprise.

"But if he's working under blind faith that he's not helping a
criminal activity, then he isn't," he said.