[420 Girl]

SOUTH Australia's famed relaxed approach to possession of marijuana for personal use took a hit yesterday as police cracked down on commercial suppliers of hydroponic equipment.

Police yesterday charged the owners or managers of five hydroponic stores allegedly involved in a cannabis-growing ring after raids in Adelaide during the week.

Detective Superintendent Linda Fellows said the stores had allegedly helped customers set up hydroponic cannabis-growing systems, organised electricians, provided advice on growing drugs and bought back dried cannabis to sell interstate.

Police began Operation Desire in February, culminating in raids on five stores and several homes on Wednesday. They also charged a NSW man, 22, after he was allegedly found with 17kg of dried cannabis at Adelaide airport. Police allegedly found $90,000 during a raid on a house in the northern suburbs, believed to have been the proceeds of the airport haul.

Since February, police have reported 72 people and seized 145kg of dried cannabis, 434 plants and $182,000.

South Australia was the first state to decriminalise possession of marijuana grown for personal use.

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