ALERT FOR CANNABIS

With the cannabis growing season under way, Oamaru police are keen to hear
from anyone knowing the location of cannabis plants.

While some people considered cannabis a "social drug", they forgot it had
harmful effects, Detective Warren Duncan said yesterday.

It could also end up in the hands of children.

"We would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows the location of
any cannabis plots or sees any suspicious activity," he said.

"A lot of the time growers are visiting and cultivating their plots at
night and their movement, particularly their location at that time, will
seem out of place."

There had been a trend towards growing cannabis indoors and under lights,
Det Duncan said.

High electrical usage, blacked-out rooms and the purchase of electrical
items such as thermostats and halogen lights were often associated with that.