FREEZE ORDERED ON SALES OF POT EQUIPMENT

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.