Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 Source: Florida Today (Melbourne, FL) Copyright: 2008 Florida Today Contact: http://www.flatoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations POT PENALTIES Legislature Should Impose Stiffer Laws On Grow-House Operators to Protect Public Many local businesses are in a slump, but it's boom times for pot growers up and down the Space Coast, where area law enforcement broke up dozens of marijuana grow houses last year. And the busts just keep happening. Last week it was a monster operation containing more than 1,200 plants found in Grant-Valkaria. Specially built, the grow house was pimped out with several air-conditioning units, a large generator, special electrical wiring and devices to rip off juice from Florida Power and Light. Two more busts of grow houses in Titusville this week involved fewer plants and less sophistication, but both reflect a statewide trend in which drug entrepreneurs grow pot in houses in quiet neighborhoods. Sometimes bringing with them gang-related gun battles -- as happened in Melbourne last year. That's why a bill in the Legislature cracking down on grow-house operators is timely. It lowers from 300 to 25 the number of plants needed for a stiff drug trafficking charge. If children are living in the house, it makes the penalty an automatic first-degree felony. The measure also makes it a felony for anyone to knowingly provide a house for pot-growing purposes. The tougher penalties will keep criminals who endanger public safety behind bars longer, and should be approved. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin