HIDDEN DANGER IN POT HOUSES

Grower Sentenced

BARRIE -- The staggering rate at which marijuana grow-houses are operating
is not only a fire disaster waiting to happen, it's causing unsuspecting
homebuyers to be ripped off, a court heard yesterday.

During sentencing arguments for a Toronto man convicted after being caught
growing a jungle of marijuana plants inside a Cookstown bungalow, court
heard how dense heat and humidity destroys the homes, which are resold
after the grow operation is completed.

Det. Const. Brent Hines of the South Simcoe Police and combined OPP Huronia
Drug Enforcement Unit said the house was wired to bypass the hydro meter
and used about $10,000 worth of "stolen" electricity to provide heat and
humidity for 380 marijuana plants.

Nine Months in Jail

"It was a very dangerous situation ... a fire could have started at any
time and there would be no stopping it spreading to other houses, or
someone could have been electrocuted and killed," he said.

Hines said such homes are usually used for one year to grow up to $900,000
in marijuana and then resold.

"But the moisture rots the framing of the house and the wiring is
dangerous," he said. In a year or so the mould is so bad that children get
sick and there is nothing insurance companies can do for them."

Allen Baker, a 30-year-old Web page designer, was sentenced to nine months
in jail.