THE GROWING THREAT OF MARIJUANA MCMANSIONS

Apparently California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was only joking when
he recently said marijuana "is not a drug. It's a leaf". I certainty
hope so.

Statistics show marijuana is the most popular illegal drug in America,
with more than half of our young adults between ages of 19-28 saying
they have used it. But today's marijuana is no Woodstock rerun; it's
potent and dangerous.

The most alarming aspect of marijuana's resurgence is the much greater
potency of today's plant particularly the hydroponic variety. In the
1960s and 70s, the average THC content (THC produces the high and
causes physiological problems) in marijuana was approximately four
percent. The THC level in the hydroponic marijuana grown today in
Florida has tested up to 30 percent, and the level continues to rise
through plant cloning by growers.

This increase has not only increased the dangerous physical effects of
the drug, but also the addictive nature of marijuana use. Experts
believe that the rate of addiction among daily marijuana users is now
higher than that among daily alcohol drinkers.

The increase in the drug's potency also has caused marijuana's market
value to skyrocket. Hydroponic marijuana in some areas actually trades
ounce for ounce with cocaine. The drug is so lucrative that grow
houses are popping up in some of the most affluent neighborhoods in
the state. These "Marijuana McMansions" are home to
multimillion-dollar operations.

In 2006, law enforcement in Tampa dismantled an elaborate marijuana
growing scheme operated by an 11-person group that owned or rented 10
houses and apartments in Hillsborough. Pasco and Hernando counties.
And that's just one example. Grow houses primarily specializing in
hydroponic marijuana have been detected in 41 of Florida's 67 counties.

Taking this threat seriously, our state must pass tougher laws to
crack down on these sophisticated growing operations. I am supporting
legislation sponsored by Sen. Steve Qelrich, R-Gainesville, and Rep.
Nick Thompson. R-Fort Myers, that lowers from 300 plants to 25 plants
the standard for creating a presumption that a person is intending to
distribute for profit. The bill also creates a new penalty for growers
who own a house for the purpose of cultivating marijuana, as well as a
new penalty for people who live in marijuana grow houses.

It is our responsibility to not only educate our citizens, especially
those who are younger and may be more susceptible to drug use, about
highly potent marijuana, but also to implement strategies for curbing
the spread of this new and dangerous threat.