Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Antonella Artuso Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/beer+plant GRITS TO BLITZ GROW-OPS Summit To Seek Ways To Counter Drug Gangs Canada has a growing reputation as a marijuana supplier to the world, and Ontario politicians are looking for ways to curtail the reefer madness. Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said yesterday his government and police chiefs will co-host the "Green Tide Summit" to combat illegal grow-ops like the pot factory busted in a Barrie beer plant. "The fact that organized crime is behind these operations is of grave concern to police and the citizens of Ontario," he said. "These groups are well organized, well financed and ruthless in their pursuit of profits, and we need to be just as relentless in our efforts to put them out of business and send them to jail." NDP MPP Peter Kormos said the solution to the problem is clear: Make pot use legal and suck the profits out of illegal operations. "Marijuana has become an intoxicant of choice for a huge part of our population across the board -- doctors, lawyers, police officers, politicians, journalists and judges," he said. "So let's get real." Kwinter said legalizing marijuana isn't the answer because most of the crop is headed to the U.S. so it's not just domestic problem. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police says weaker laws in Canada compared to the U.S. have contributed to the grow-op explosion that has adversely affected communities. Kwinter said the summit, held in Toronto March 4-5, will bring together utility officials, realtors, police and politicians to work out a plan of action. But York Police Chief Armand LaBarge said the conference won't offer his drug cops much of anything new. They've already been working with hydro companies for a few years. York Region had been hit particularly hard by the phenomenon. Hydro companies estimate in Markham alone, one in 100 homes are being used as a hydroponic. Some growers are paying for hydro and using families to provide cover and tend crops. "Last year alone we've found 22 children in these residences," said LaBarge. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin