UNWELCOME NEIGHBOURS

The fact the former Molson Brewery in Barrie has been used as a
"marijuana factory" for at least a year -- right under the eyes
(noses) of civic officials and police -- may seem humorous at first
glance, but it is no laughing matter. A lawyer representing six of the
men charged in connection with Canada's largest indoor pot bust is
dead wrong when he says his clients don't belong in jail and the
public finds the whole matter "amusing".

Regardless of your views on the proposed relaxation of marijuana laws
in Canada, illegal grow houses are a very serious problem for a number
of reasons.

Grow operations are often connected to organized crime and with that
comes a litany of other societal problems including drug trafficking,
guns, assaults and murder.

Nothing amusing about that, is there?

The problem -- according to police -- is getting much
worse.

A 2002 report released by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
estimates as many as 15,000 grow houses were likely operating in 2002
- -- up a staggering 250 per cent.

Halton police hope a united approach combining law enforcement,
residents and municipal leaders might help turn the tide.

The theft of huge amounts of hydro to keep a grow house operating
impacts everyone.

Provincially in 2002 it's estimated $85-million in electricity was
stolen to operate pot houses which accounted for 85 per cent of an
estimated $100-million overall hit to the economy.

Police feel as many as 10,000 children and their families may have
been living in grow houses between 2000-03 exposing themselves to
health and safety risks, not to mention violence.

As well, property insurance rates -- already at obscene levels in some
cases -- rise in part to grow house operations.

Also, the fact 17 per cent of all grow house operations are found
within 500 metres of a primary or secondary school isn't very
comforting for Ontario families.

Illegal grow house operations hurt us all in a variety of ways -- and
there really is nothing "amusing" about that.