'GROWING' PROBLEM

Rise In Pot Cultivation Tip Of Iceberg, Say Cops

It's only mid-February, but Winnipeg police have already busted close
to 20 marijuana grow operations this year -- including five grows
during a seven-day period this month. That puts the city on pace to
possibly surpass the 108 grow-op busts made last year, says drug unit
Sgt. Danny Smyth.

"It's been pretty consistent across the country," Smyth said.
"Certainly in Ontario and B.C. they're seeing that same kind of trend
as well."

'GOING TO POT'

Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill Crate believes the entire country
- -- not just Winnipeg -- is going to pot.

"While Colombia is the top country for cocaine production, Canada is
now the No. 1 country for marijuana production," Crate said last month.

Last week in Winnipeg, city cops uncovered four residential grow ops
in the West End, North Kildonan, St. James and Garden Grove. Pot
seized in these busts had an estimated street value of more than $3
million.

The week before, cops raided a grow op in an upscale Whyte Ridge home
and seized 520 plants worth about $873,000 on the street. Police said
the house was linked to Asian organized crime.

On average, drug unit officers are uncovering "two or three" per week,
Smyth said.

"We've discovered grows in every area of the city, from the inner city
out to most of the suburbs," he added.

For cops, the biggest concern is the public risk associated with
marijuana grow ops.

Risks include: fires, power outages, poisonous gases, explosions,
violence, booby traps, structural damage to homes, electrocutions,
higher utility costs and environmental damage.

"We've had instances where whole neighbourhoods have been blacked out
because of an overload," Smyth said.

Cops also discover the illicit operations when fires break out, from
public tips and while investigating break-ins -- sometimes involving
rival gangs.

Smyth recalls the arrest of one man who had a list of addresses of
possible drug houses in his pocket.

"They have no real way of knowing there is in fact a grow there," he
added. "They are just taking a chance to break in."

It's these risks to the public that Smyth would like to see be
factored into the sentence a convicted marijuana grower receives.

Police say they have noticed four categories of growers.

The most prevalent are the independent commercial operations. The
remaining three types of grow ops involve outlaw motorcycle gangs,
Asian-based crime and those growing for their own personal use, Smyth
said.

Meanwhile, a proliferation of hydroponic shops across the city has
made grow equipment easily accessible.

But the owner of one store, who didn't want to be identified because
it would be "bad for business," told The Sun that the equipment used
in a grow is easily obtained at most large retail stores and
wholesalers.

"All you need is a fluorescent light, seeds, food and away you go," he
said.

But he did admit that his shop doesn't have a policy against selling
equipment to suspected growers.

"People smoke it," he said. "If people didn't smoke it, then people
wouldn't grow it."

And police apparently have no qualms with local hydroponic
stores.

"They're not doing anything wrong," Smyth said. "They're legitimate
businesses."