I spoke with our Evidence Unit and was advised that there is a specific law relating to the equipment (paraphernalia) used in grow houses that allows it to be destroyed on-scene. I found that in 2008 new legislation was passed regarding an alarming increase in the number of grow houses being maintained in Florida, which was causing a huge burden on law enforcement being required to store massive amounts of cumbersome grow house equipment as evidence. Florida Statute 893.10 was amended to allow this practice for ‘manufacturing equipment’ after following certain procedures. I could not find anything that gives discretion for destroying paraphernalia that is simply found somewhere and at our agency it is to be turned into evidence/property. Not sure if this is helpful, but I just wanted to let you know about the grow house exception to the evidence submission requirement.
Here is a link to the House Bill that became law:
https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/7320/file/2008_Indoor_Marijuana_Grow_Law.pdf