SA bans hydroponic equipment

[janemary]

THE State Government has stepped up its war on hydroponic cannabis, making it illegal to possess the lamps and reflectors used to produce crops.

 

Equipment used in clandestine drug laboratories also will be targeted by new laws aimed at stopping illegal drug manufacturing within South Australia.

 

The prohibited equipment will include high-intensity lamps, reflectors and carbon filters used for hydroponic cannabis crops.

 

Laboratory equipment such as condensors, evaporators, heating tools, stirrers, funnels, flasks and filters also will be illegal to possess - unless the owners can provide a legitimate reason for possessing them.

 

Attorney-General Michael Atkinson today announced anyone found with the equipment who could not provide a lawful reason could face fines of up to $10,000 or two years' jail.

 

Do you agree or disagree with the Government's latest crackdown in the war on drugs? Vote in our poll on this page and leave your comments in the box at the bottom of the page.

 

"These are the tools of the lucrative but deadly drug trade," he said.

 

"They're used in sophisticated set-ups and two-bit backyard operations alike.

 

"This government will prosecute anyone who has these illegal drug-making devices – unless they can give a good explanation."

 

Mr Atkinson said the items had been identified by police has being commonly used to produce illegal drugs.

 

While some hydroponic equipment was used for legitimate purposes, such as growing vegetables, there was no question it was also being widely used for cannabis production.

 

"With the amount of hydroponic equipment being sold, you would think South Australia was the hydroponic tomato capital of Australia," he said.

 

"Alas, we do not produce as many hydroponic tomatoes as hydroponic cannabis."

 

Mr Atkinson said banning the hydroponic equipment had been identified as the best way to attack the drug trade, which predominantly involved bikie gangs.

 

"It's no secret that those who have these items aren't planning to bake biscuits for the Girl Guides," he said.

 

"Where there's smoke there's fire and we'd like to put out the blaze before it gets started."

 

Mr Atkinson said the Government was confident it could "make a big dent" against the drug trade with the new laws, which already had been passed by State Parliament.

 

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0...from=public_rss

[thedarkestone]

Yep, push it further underground. Can't grow outdoors or indoors. Living in this state is now a joke. Time to move to communist China or some where like that where there is more freedom. What are they going to ban next? The SA government should be ashamed of itself. SA stoners should unite and stand up for the hydro tomato growers.

[WantDaChronic]

well thats just down right fucked of the government considering the government's anti drug stance though im suprised it took this long for them to ban the equipment to grow our favourite herb....

 

ohh well, how about all the SA growers move to NSW? we could over run this crud state with the best cannabis the world has ever seen and stockpile up on grow equipment in the process so if they ban it here too we can keep growing for years to come

 

then again with the expected rise in price of growing equipment in SA it might just be worth while getting a loan from a bank, renting a truck, fill it to the brim with grow equipment and go on a road trip to adeliade in 6 months when current grow equipment should be replaced thanks for another black market you bastards

[bufo marinus]

Ban HPS and MH lamps. That's funny as all fuck These twits aren't living in the real world.

What the fuck will that do to bikie gangs?

I grow my own to stay away from those retards you stupid stupid cunt

[Token Jet]

It's gonna be a pain in the arse alright, but the good thing is that metal hallide and hps lights are used for flood lighting, so although not agricultural spectrum should still be available even if hydro gear is banned Australia wide. I've seen a tute on another site about how to transform a streetlight into a fitting with a seperate ballast. As for getting caught with the lights it might be an extra charge but considering the lights are usually hanging above your plants, you're in the shit anyway. Personally I'm considering saving all these type of tutes, like the light one and stoney's carbon filter one to disk in case of the unlikely event of resources like OzStoners coming under attack next.

 

Best of luck SA growers.

[freddie]

"These are the tools of the lucrative but deadly drug trade," he said.

 

Wrong. Some drugs are deadly but not the one we're talking about.

 

This law wont stop commercial growers. If will make some personal growers think twice maybe. Big crime wins again as prices go up. Who comes up with these policies?!

 

 

Looks like the future is organic, CFL, or outdoor.

[loylty gets u nothing]

wtf

this is some sick joke aint it..

clandestine..pmsl

thought that was more like speed labs

well we all know wat to buy up[ on hey..

other than that wats the option leds and fluoro..

boxes of bulbs...mmmm

we stoners can have the bulb market...

love ya comments bufo..well said

i too grow to avoid that

take carer

bil

[mull]

"These are the tools of the lucrative but deadly drug trade," he said.

 

 

If cannabis has never killed anybody, then it must be the 'drug trade' that is 'deadly'.

 

Making the cost of cannabis much higher, is that going to increase or decrease the 'deadly' side of the 'drug trade'?

 

 

Spose at least SA will save some carbon emissions to give away freely to the Olympic Dam Mine.

[humphrey b flaubert]

Is this some sort of joke? Are they going to ban syringes because sometimes people use them to take illegal drugs? and they will need to ban tin foil, hose pipes, mr juicy bottles and lighters

[shroomyshroom]

Why hasn't the govenrment figured out everytime they think they are helping the community out all they are doing is gving drug dealers a perfect reason to inflate their prices... if they want to help fucking get off your high hourse look at its medical properties and legalise it...... when it legal it has no market/street value.... its a win win situation....