STATE LINKS PLANT KIT ADS TO DOPE

ADVERTISEMENTS for hydroponic equipment which show pictures of cannabis
plants are evidence some elements of the industry need policing, according
to the State Government.

The Government has been under fire from the hydroponic industry since plans
to license suspicious businesses were announced.

A spokesman for Health Minister Bob Kucera said the nature and location of
the advertisements indicated a need for a clearer policy in respect to
hydroponic growing equipment.

Advertisements for such equipment appear regularly in bikie magazines,
often showing pictures of lush cannabis plants.

The State Government plans to grant police the power to license hydroponic
businesses which cannot adequately answer questions about their business or
clients.

Premier Geoff Gallop yesterday threw his weight behind the decision to
patrol the hydroponic industry.

"I think that proper regulation of the hydroponic industry is perfectly
acceptable," he said.

Dr Gallop said the industry would benefit when police oversaw their operations.

Several hydroponic businesses yesterday said the licensing system would not
stop the illegal use of hydroponic equipment. "It just means people will
start buying from the Eastern States via mail order," one owner said.

Drug Law Reform Foundation State president Jason Meotti supported
regulation of the industry.

But Citizens Against Crime president Bob Taylor, who runs a business
supplying chemical nutrients for hydroponically grown plants, did not. "If
the courts or the police were strong enough to ensure that the consequences
for misuse were appropriate and consistently handed down, there would be no
need for a licensing system," he said.