Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2008
Source: Tribune, The (NK)
Copyright: 2008 Brunswick News Inc
Contact:
http://tribunenb.canadaeast.com/onsite.php?page=contact&dept=letter_editor
Website: http://tribunenb.canadaeast.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4747
Author: Ed Turgeon, Const.  District 9 Restigouche-Chaleur RCMP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations

INDOOR MARIJUANA GROW-OPS

How would you feel if your neighbour was growing marijuana in their
house?

Not your business? Not your problem? Don't want to get involved?
Scared of retaliation? Don't want to be a rat?

These are just some of the excuses that growers want to hear and the
main reason that they set up shop in communities just like yours.
Getting involved doesn't mean you are putting a big sign in your
window telling the growers that you are blowing the whistle on them.
Getting involved just means that you don't accept your community being
over-run by people who want to make easy money by taking advantage of
those around them. We all have a responsibility towards safe homes,
and safe communities.

Some of the signs that may indicate there is a grow-op in your
neighborhood include:

- - a person bringing many small plastic pails into the house and yet
you never see them gardening in the backyard using those containers.

- - same thing applies to planting soil, plant food, peat moss
etc.....

- - bringing large lengths of tubing into the house. (This is used for
irrigation)

- - bringing large lighting fixtures, industrial size (These are used
for artificial sunlight/warmth)

- - hydro meters are tampered with. Many times the growers will cut into
the hydro power avoiding the high cost of electricity involved in such
an operation.

- - all the windows in the house (usually basement) are boarded up or
covered up in some way.

- - condensation on the windows. These houses will have very high
humidity.

- - smell coming from the house. Noxious fumes can build up in a
marijuana grow-op house thus needing it to be vented. It will be a
very distinct smell.

- - comings and goings at odd hours.

- - sometimes it will appear as if nobody is living there yet there is
always a small light or T.V,. left on in the house. The yard is not
looked after, i.e. long grass, snow not being shoveled in winter.

The cost to a community that is host to such places is very high.
First of all there is the danger to children. Many of these houses,
are booby-trapped in some way, shape or form. Kids are curious by
nature and will venture onto a neighbour's property to look at
something or just play. These people who cut into the hydro power
often do it in a very crude manner leaving many exposed dangers and
the possibility of someone being injured or electrocuted.

There is also the increase in crime that comes along with these
places. People who buy the drugs from them need to find money from
somewhere. Break-and-enters increase, theft from vehicles etc..... all
in the name of getting money to supply a drug habit.

I have just touched on the signs in order to give you a bit of insight
into what is involved in an indoor grow-op. For more information in
detail on the matter, go online and research "Indoor marijuana grow-ops".

Remember, if you are scared of retaliation etc..... Crimestoppers
(1-800-222-TIPS) only wants your info, not your name. Keep your
community safe.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin