HYDROPONIC SALES ON LMMA AGENDA

A proposal to regulate the sale of hydroponic equipment and drug
paraphernalia is one of 14 resolutions that delegates to the Lower
Mainland Municipal Association are considering this week in Harrison
Hot Springs.

A similar proposal in Chilliwack was scuttled by city councillors
after hydroponic merchants threatened legal action over what they
called the draft bylaw's "gestapo-esque" invasion of privacy. B.C.
Privacy Commissioner David Loukadelis also had concerns about the city
bylaw.

The LMMA resolution, if approved by the delegates, would ask the B.C.
government to amend the Community Charter to give "clear authority" to
municipalities to impose requirements on businesses selling
hydroponics and drug paraphernalia similar to those imposed on
second-hand businesses.

A Chilliwack bylaw aimed at pawnshops and second-hand stores was
approved by council last year and requires merchants to obtain
customers' personal information and to identify items bought or sold
for electronic submission to police authorities in an attempt to stem
the trade in stolen goods.