SEARCH UNCOVERS MARIJUANA BOOKS

A search of Whitcoulls' website yesterday found 180 marijuana-related
titles.

The title sold by Reuben Wade in New Plymouth was Marijuana
Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Grower's Bible.

Whitcoulls' communications manager Malcolm Neil, of Melbourne, said
yesterday checking for illegal drug-related books was a complex issue
when there were three million titles on their worldwide website.

Some titles with marijuana in the title were academic.

"We can't just make a blanket ban," Mr Neil said.

A regular weekly check was carried out to try to ensure any illegal
titles were discovered and discontinued.

Whitcoulls worked closely with New Zealand's Internal Affairs for any
books that received a classification, Mr Neil said.

None of the books was on sale in Whitcoulls' shops, he said.