Bans Close On Hydroponic Cannabis Gear

[Ganjarden]

JUST two of South Australia's 40 hydroponics shops have applied for a licence to sell equipment that is used almost exclusively for the production of cannabis crops.

From Tuesday, retailers caught selling a range of proscribed equipment, such as halide lights and carbon filters, face fines of up to $20,000 - as do employees working in the shops without a licence.

So far, police have had no licence applications from individuals wanting to continue working in hydroponics shops, while six exemptions have been granted to retailers who sell some of the proscribed goods - such as high-powered globes for tennis court lighting.

While the Hydroponics Industry Control laws came into effect on March 1, there was a three-month transitional period during which retailers selling proscribed equipment could apply for a licence or "trade-out" of the goods.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Shanahan, who is the officer in charge of the Licensing Enforcement Branch, said yesterday police would start enforcing the law from Tuesday.

"It will not only be the LEB, but officers in Local Service Areas will actively be policing it as well," she said.

Retailers caught selling proscribed equipment face penalties ranging from an on-the-spot fine for a minor breach to $20,000 for significant offending.

Chief-Insp Shanahan said the legislation meant hydroponics retailers "cannot now carry on the business they had been conducting lawfully prior to the introduction of this legislation".

"The legislation, hopefully by June 1, will have the impact that was intended - that is shut down hydroponic retail sales," she said.

The new laws followed similar legislation introduced in 2008 which outlawed the possession of such equipment without lawful excuse. Under that legislation, anyone found with hydroponic equipment or equipment used in the manufacture of amphetamines, such as condensers and evaporators, faces two years' jail or a $10,000 fine.

Both pieces of legislation are aimed at wiping out South Australia's thriving hydroponic cannabis industry - driven by bikie gangs and other organised crime groups who export cannabis to other states.

Both groups utilise many individual growers who each grow small numbers of plants to minimise the impact if they are caught. The cannabis from each grower is combined to form a significant quantity which is then covertly transported interstate.

Under the new law, anyone purchasing proscribed equipment will also be required to provide 100 points of identification and those details will be sent to police within 72 hours.

Chief-Insp. Shanahan said she believed the latest measures would have an impact on the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis because it would reduce the availability of the equipment used and allow police to monitor buyers.

Yesterday, Police Minister Michael Wright said: "We make no apology for coming down hard on those businesses that are knowingly supplying equipment that assists in the cultivation and trade of illegal drugs".


NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Adelaide Now
Author: Nigel Hunt
Contact: Adelaide Now
Copyright: 2010 News Limited
Website: Bans close on hydroponic cannibas gear

 

[Purple Goose]

Yesterday, Police Minister Michael Wright said: "We make no apology for coming down hard on those businesses that are knowingly supplying equipment that assists in the cultivation and trade of illegal drugs".

Yeah and anyone who grows there own hydroponic food on a regular basis is now screwed and doomed to pay retail because the equipment is no longer available to the public in local stores but the criminal organizations that are profiting from this will work out ways to get there equipment . For instance at one point in canada Toronto to be exact there was a rash of street light thefts as the gangs in the North end were stealing them as they are powered with 250w hps lights which I think is a normal practice in any city and other then lighting just about everything else needed in hydroponics can be self fabricated and the parts that cant be made at home can be purchased at garden centers such as pond pumps and the rest can be picked up in an aquarium store. So all they are really accomplishing is forcing the people who plan on continuing to grow hydro is making them smuggle the lighting in and more then likely there will be people using pleasure yachts to sail to new zealand and load up on ballasts,bulbs and nutrients and sell them for %100 markup,

 

[KingJohnC]

this law, will just force criminal organizations to become more powerful in underground hydroponic sales and equipment theft.

 

[lofryhash]

Among people who consider themselves 'intelligent', I would think looking at the world condition at this time of our history, we might want to get all the tight-assed little power hungry *$&#'s in one pile and get 'em so wide-eyed they wouldn't be doin' all their evil... keep fed and high on some little resort isle and let the REST OF US RUN THE WORLD!!!