Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Equipment once used to grow marijuana in Jefferson and St. Francois counties soon may be used by college students to grow a different kind of grass.
The Missouri Highway Patrol plans to formally announce Thursday that humidifiers, electronic scales, air conditioners, growing buckets, carbon dioxide regulators, growing lights and exhaust fan systems seized in drug raids will be donated to Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo.
Sgt. Al Nothum said the equipment was seized in summer of 2009 by the Highway Patrol and the Mineral Area Drug Task Force.
As far as Nothum knows, this is a first for the department. Equipment seized in drug raids usually is ordered destroyed after the criminal case is finished, he said. But in these cases, judges in both counties signed orders allowing the equipment to be donated for students to use in laboratories.
"It's a lot of good equipment, when you think about it," Nothum said.
Gil Kennon, vice president of college affairs and dean of career and technical education at Mineral Area College, said the idea came from a member of the drug task force who was familiar with the college's horticulture program. "It just struck them that these might be some things we could use."
Kennon said the school has a greenhouse, some small crop fields, a mum garden and an ornamental plant area. The school grows various grasses that are studied for potential use as bio-fuels, he said.
"We're excited to receive this and looking forward to our students putting it to good use," Kennon said.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: STLtoday.com
Author: SHANE ANTHONY
Copyright: 2011 STLtoday.com
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch contact information
Website: Seized pot-growing equipment will be used for college horticulture program
The Missouri Highway Patrol plans to formally announce Thursday that humidifiers, electronic scales, air conditioners, growing buckets, carbon dioxide regulators, growing lights and exhaust fan systems seized in drug raids will be donated to Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo.
Sgt. Al Nothum said the equipment was seized in summer of 2009 by the Highway Patrol and the Mineral Area Drug Task Force.
As far as Nothum knows, this is a first for the department. Equipment seized in drug raids usually is ordered destroyed after the criminal case is finished, he said. But in these cases, judges in both counties signed orders allowing the equipment to be donated for students to use in laboratories.
"It's a lot of good equipment, when you think about it," Nothum said.
Gil Kennon, vice president of college affairs and dean of career and technical education at Mineral Area College, said the idea came from a member of the drug task force who was familiar with the college's horticulture program. "It just struck them that these might be some things we could use."
Kennon said the school has a greenhouse, some small crop fields, a mum garden and an ornamental plant area. The school grows various grasses that are studied for potential use as bio-fuels, he said.
"We're excited to receive this and looking forward to our students putting it to good use," Kennon said.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: STLtoday.com
Author: SHANE ANTHONY
Copyright: 2011 STLtoday.com
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch contact information
Website: Seized pot-growing equipment will be used for college horticulture program
