POLICE WANT STORE OWNERS TO REVEAL POT INFORMATION

The City of Abbotsford wants businesses who sell hydroponics supplies and
used goods - especially guns or equipment used in marijuana growing
operations - to pass their customer information on to local police.

That was one of three resolutions city council approved on Monday to send
to the next annual gathering of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association,
held May 11-13.

The council debated four resolutions, but combined two of them related to
grow-op equipment.

That resolution calls for an amendment to the Community Charter and a
request to the provincial government to require "all businesses retailing
or wholesaling equipment and supplies that are associated with marijuana
grow operations . . . to keep track of their customers and notify the chief
constable that has jurisdiction in the local government."

The resolution also makes the same request in relation to several classes
of "businesses that sell firearms, nutrients, hydroponics equipment and
other materials commonly used in grow operations."

Currently the province's Community Charter already enables local
governments to require people selling or buying used or secondhand goods to
submit records of all transactions to local police.

The resolution targeting sales to suspect marijuana growers would emulate
that section, said the city's public relations officer, Jay Teichroeb.

He said the changes could affect those who sell hydroponics equipment
exclusively and also larger hardware, gardening suppliers or home
improvement chains, such as Rona Revy or Home Depot.

"If they're engaged in the sale of hydroponics, then yes they would be
included in the category," he said Tuesday.

Another resolution will ask the province to enact legislation to
"discourage the construction of industrial-type agricultural productions
facilities on Class 1 and Class 2 soils."

The resolution originally contained the phrase "such as greenhouses," but
council members chose to leave it out so that the greenhouse sector wasn't
being targeted, said Teichroeb.

The third resolution asks for provincial fireworks regulations on
fireworks, including education, transportation enforcement and cost
recovery. Councillors are expected to give final approval for the
resolutions at an April 4 meeting.