FREEZE ON POT EQUIPMENT SALES

Sales of seized marijuana growing equipment by Canadian police have been
halted because of reports some of the equipment was being purchased and
re-used by pot growers.

The freeze was revealed by federal Public Works Minister Scott Brison last
month in response to a question by Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal.

"When I became aware of the situation I decided to put an immediate freeze
on any transactions of this nature," Brison said.

"There will be no reselling of this type of paraphernalia or equipment that
is used in hydroponic grow operations ... that will allow us to perform a
review to identify some of this material."

The review is expected to take at least two months.

The current practice among Lower Mainland police has been to destroy gear
that is specific to marijuana growing, such as grow lamps and fans, while
reselling other equipment such as generators and dehumidifiers under
proceeds of crime legislation.

However, the practice was called into question in August, when the York
Region Police seized more than $1 million worth of plants, lights,
generators, dehumidifiers and fans in August, and then learned some of it
had been seized before and had been purchased by pot growers at a police
auction.

"The fact that the government would sell previously seized grow-op
equipment to grow-op operators at a discount is completely unacceptable,"
Grewal said. "I'm pleased the minister has agreed to put a stop to it."

York Region Police chief Armand La Barge is urging the federal government
to make changes to the Seized Property Management Act to ensure that all
equipment seized from a marijuana grow operation is destroyed.