cannabisnews.com: Summit To Discuss Fight Against Marijuana Growers





Summit To Discuss Fight Against Marijuana Growers
Posted by CN Staff on January 28, 2004 at 17:32:48 PT
By The Canadian Press 
Source: Canadian Press 
Ontario's police chiefs and the provincial government will convene a summit of political and private-sector interests in March to find ways to stop the spread of marijuana grow houses, Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said today."There are serious implications for the quality of life that we have in our community" from the indoor marijuana-growing operations, Kwinter said.
"It has to do with real estate values, it has to do with health of children, it has to do with fire safety, it has to do with $85 million worth of electricity being stolen from the people of Ontario."The Green Tide summit on March 4 and 5 will co-ordinate the efforts of police, firefighters, utilities, real estate brokers and insurance companies in an effort to close down marijuana grow houses, which police estimate bring in $12.7 billion a year in revenue.Police believe 10,000 Ontario children are being raised in grow houses by people they call "gardeners" or "crop sitters," and in some cases Children's Aid Societies have been called in to remove the kids.Halton regional Chief Ean Algar, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said everything about the grow operations poses a threat, from the chemicals used to the illegal and often dangerous ways they siphon electricity supplies."We think there's an opportunity to develop solutions here to defeat this," Algar said.But Kwinter wasn't as optimistic about the long-term results of another crackdown on marijuana."Are we every going to eliminate it? Obviously there's no way," he admitted.Kwinter said a big part of the problem is most of the pot is sold in the United States in exchange for cocaine and guns, which helps fuel organized crime in Canada.He said he is "totally opposed" to decriminalization."It isn't a matter of saying, `Why don't we let them grow this stuff and tax it?,' " Kwinter said."When you grow it and tax it, there is far greater requirements for a market than you can have here" in Canada.NDP house leader Peter Kormos said it's time for the province to end the prohibition on marijuana so it can tax a legally grown crop, and accused Kwinter of missing a good opportunity for the cash-strapped government."It seems to me that a government that's seriously looking for tax revenues, that says the cupboard is bare, would be looking at a more meaningful way of dealing with this issue," Kormos said."The reefer madness theme really doesn't cut it anymore, and it's not particularly helpful. Prohibition didn't work in the 1930s (with alcohol), and it's not working now."Conservative community safety critic Garfield Dunlop said holding a summit to consult on grow ops is the Liberals' way to delay their promise to give police additional resources."We don't need another consultation to tell us something we already know," Dunlop said.The summit will involve municipal and provincial politicians, private companies and others affected by illegal pot operations.Groups invited include the Ontario Real Estate Association, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Canadian Bankers Association, and retail outlets that sell chemicals and lights for grow ops.Police want retailers, hydro companies and real estate agents to alert them to any suspected grow houses, and want to find ways around privacy provisions that stop utilities from saying which customers are using abnormally large amounts of electricity.Police in nearby Barrie recently discovered the largest marijuana grow house in Canadian history inside a former brewery. Source: Canadian PressPublished:  January 28, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Ontario: A Place To Live & Grow Videohttp://cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.html Grow Your Own? It's a Bummer http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18165.shtmlLighten Up on Pot Growers, Canada's on a Roll http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18161.shtmlA 'Growing Like Weeds', Indeed!http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18152.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on January 29, 2004 at 10:48:15 PT:
I'm afraid I see something much more ominous
The history of the MMJ/MJ movement since 1996 has been one of moral victories on our side, soon followed by an onslaught of anti activity. Much of that activity has been properly dressed down for being illegal, such as threatening doctors for recommending cannabis as a palliative.The antis have gotten their fingers singed in case after case, the most notable and humiliating being the Rosenthal Trial, with the tearful jurors publicly apologizing to Mr. Rosenthal for their verdict...and forcing Judge Breyer to avoid risking inflaming the politically powerful progressive communities of California by being lenient with Rosenthal.So, the only thing the antis can do now, without further risking public ire, is to return to the tried and true methods of the past.Namely, Reefer Madness Redux. They've mostly (save for a few genuine knuckledraggers still spouting off) dropped the line of cannabis will cause _____________ (fill in the blank with an anti's favorite projected neurosis, like men growing boobs), and are instead now seeking to frighten people with the criminal activity aspect of it.(Of course, just as voice of reason NDP house leader Kormos points out obliquley, it's not some chicken or egg issue; Acts that weren't criminal or lucrative before the laws prohibiting them become extremely lucrative to perform after the laws are in place. A, therefore B, not the other way around.)But this time, there appears to be heavy concerted efforts on the part of both Canuck and Amie antis to really push this idea. That it's coming at the same time as a supposed decrim bill will be sent to Parliament is about as transparent as it gets. And it's practically right out of the DEA PR handbook. The Canucks simply cannot afford the cost of such things, as they HAVE to live under a tight budget. The only guy on the continent with the moola AND the moxie is Uncle. Which is why I say if you lift the red and white maple-leafed curtain draping this show, you'll see Uncle behind the curtain in that red, white and blue getup pulling the levers and pushing the buttons. 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 29, 2004 at 08:51:20 PT
Don't Miss This Video
I think it is so funny!Ontario: A Place To Live & Grow Video:
http://cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.html
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Comment #3 posted by jose melendez on January 29, 2004 at 08:49:36 PT
Price fixing: the anti- trust.
"When you grow it and tax it, there is far greater requirements for a market than you can have here" in Canada.'nuff said.
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Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on January 29, 2004 at 06:21:24 PT
this one's a laugher
"Police want retailers, hydro companies and real estate agents to alert them to any suspected grow houses, and want to find ways around privacy provisions that stop utilities from saying which customers are using abnormally large amounts of electricity."The above won't happen because Canadian citizens are tired of the 'Drug War'. If anything, Canadian citizens are NOT going to inform the Police. What a hoot these prohibitionists have become.Enough of this prohibition stuff, snitching on your neighbor and the existence of an outdated stupid law against cannabis. Enough, I say.The true efficacy of cannabis in action.
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Comment #1 posted by lombar on January 28, 2004 at 19:58:35 PT
You want to stop illegal grows?
Adopt the Canadian Senates reccomendations...Legalise and regulate cannabis. Create a national drug strategy including tobacco and alcohol.If there are 15-20,000 grows in BC alone just how many cops do you think we would need to even put a dent in it? Close hospitals, cut social programs, end privacy, and hire more cops? NO THANKS."Police want retailers, hydro companies and real estate agents to alert them to any suspected grow houses, and want to find ways around privacy provisions that stop utilities from saying which customers are using abnormally large amounts of electricity."Now they want shops and services to spy on their customers for them all for a plant that has not even killed anyone. Enough is enough...
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