GOING TO POT! A GROWING PROBLEM
By Tony Cleveland
Our neighbouring Province of British Columbia has become known for the propensity of marijuana growing operations, (“Grow-Ops”). Interestingly, much of the end product goes to the USA.
It is not so widely known that Calgary is also a significant player in this market. The leaflet enclosed with your Enmax bill recently, alerted you to the signs of, and risks associated with this problem.
Leaving aside the medical, ethical and moral arguments for and against the use and abuse of “Pot”, the proliferation of Grow-Ops in our City should be of concern to us all. You may ask, “Why should I be concerned at what my neighbor is doing in his basement?” There are many reasons why you need to be concerned, including:
- The house may become a biological and environmental hazard due to air and water pollution from the chemicals and pesticides involved, from the discharge of effluent into the sewer system, and the development of mould from high humidity.
- The house can be a fire risk due to frequent bypassing of the electricity supply meter, in order to power the lighting for the plants. The proximity of your own property increases potential for collateral damage in the event of an incident.
- Electricity is being stolen - a cost we all pay in our power bills.
- All these Grow-Ops are controlled by organized crime and they bring undesirables into our neighborhoods, with all the attendant problems of gang warfare, home invasions and so on.
Finally, when the Grow-Op is “busted” or abandoned, the house may well be contaminated and condemned because of mould, and may have to be demolished or require extensive remediation to make it habitable again. Each of these will affect your own quality of life and property value.
How do you recognize a Grow-Op? This is not always easy as the operators are becoming quite sophisticated. Some signs are:
- A house which appears shut up with the blinds drawn most of the time.
- A house where the occupants are absent or not around for much of the time.
- Signs of high humidity or little snow on the roof in winter, compared with other properties.
How do we deal with this menace? First and foremost we get to know our neighbours, and newcomers to the community. Second, inform the Police of suspicious activity.
Tony Cleveland is the Past President of the Millrise Community Association, and he is also a member of the City of Calgary’s Marijuana Grow Ops Coalition.
