Pubdate: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 Source: Orangeville Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2009 Orangeville Citizen Contact: http://www.citizen.on.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2529 Author: Dan Pelton, Staff Reporter Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. QUIET SUMMER ON THE DUFFERIN POT FRONT Dufferin OPP say they have had not been called in to eradicate an outdoor marijuana grow-op this season, or made any arrests in that regard. It could be theorized that the cooler summer the area may have discouraged the growth of pot, which ideally needs a constant temperature between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius. But that theory may have been blown out of the water by reports of an outdoor grow-up uncovered last Thursday in Grey County. The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Drug Enforcement Unit, along with members of the Western Region Emergency Response Team and Grey County Detachment uniformed officers executed a search on a rural property in Georgian Bluffs township and found a grow with 1,740 marijuana plants that OPP said had an approximate street value in excess of $1.7 million.The seized plants were mature. A 40-year-old male was found on the scene and arrested. [redacted] of Toronto was charged with production of marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking. In a previous press release, OPP pointed out that marijuana growers look for the following areas: swamps, corn fields, wooded areas, along rivers and rural rental properties with large acreage. Once an area is located, growers will bring to the area large bags of fertilizer, shovels, chemicals, pails and, of course, the marijuana plants. The plants are planted and maintained by the growers over the next five months while they mature. Due to the heartiness of the marijuana plant, they only have to be tended to about once every two weeks. In late September or early October, the growers return to harvest their plants, leaving the root of the plant behind. For those unfamiliar with the plants, they are bright green in colour and the leaves have seven jagged fingers. They grow to between three and five feet in height and give off an odour that resembles vegetation that has just been sprayed by a skunk. Common indicators that a 'grow op' may be in your neighbourhood: abandoned vehicles parked on side roads or trails; people observed walking in remote areas for no apparent reason; bags of fertilizer, planting trays or chemicals located in remote areas; well trampled trails in wooded or swamp areas, and clearedout areas in swamps, wooded areas or corn fields. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr