FREEZE ORDERED ON SALES OF POT EQUIPMENT

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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.