Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jul 2005
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: The Windsor Star 2005
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Shannon Montgomery, Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POT FLOURISHING IN ONTARIO NORTH

TORONTO - The discovery of a northern Ontario marijuana grow operation 
spanning an area the size of three football fields is a sign that Canada's 
booming pot-growing business is expanding both in size and location, 
experts say.

More than 21,000 marijuana plants were seized Sunday from behind a home in 
Iroquois Falls, Ont., about 70 kilometres northeast of Timmins.

Earlier last week, Ontario police seized more than 7,000 plants, ecstasy 
pills and growing equipment in Sundridge, Ont., about 70 kilometres south 
of North Bay.

Many grow-ops are moving from urban locations to rural locations to take 
advantage of bigger growing areas and to escape police detection, according 
to the acting head of the Ontario Provincial Police's drug enforcement squad.

"We're seeing a trend where we see grow operators across the province move 
further north, and increase in size," said Det.-Insp. Frank Elbers.

Indoor grow ops used to be the norm because people felt that the plant 
produced was of a higher quality in terms of THC, the active ingredient in 
marijuana, said Elbers.

In what is thought to be the province's largest bust, police discovered 
25,000 plants inside the three-storey former Molson brewery last year in 
Barrie.

However more growers believe outdoor planting works and are moving from 
southern Ontario to rural regions.

"This year we've just seen a real swing to where we've had half a dozen 
growers of a large nature, and everyone seems to be from southern Ontario," 
said Det.-Sgt. Bill O'Shea, a unit commander with the OPP's drug 
enforcement section in North Bay, who worked on that case.

Det.-Sgt. Bill O'Shea, with the OPP's drug enforcement section in North 
Bay, said another major consideration for these rural operators is 
something any potential property owner thinks about -- that it costs a lot 
less to live in the country.
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