Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2008
Source: Lindsay This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 mykawartha.com, Metroland Printing, Publishing
Contact:  http://www.mykawartha.com/kawarthaNews
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2213
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POLICE OFFER TIPS TO HELP BATTLE GROW-OPS

The OPP are giving a heads-up to rural residents as another marijuana 
growing season gets underway.

Each spring, particularly in May and June, people involved in growing 
marijuana head to rural areas in search of property where they can 
plant the illegal crop.

Police say favourite areas are swamps, corn fields, wooded areas and 
along rivers.

Once an area is located, growers will bring in large bags of 
fertilizer, shovels, chemicals, pails and of course the marijuana 
plants.  The plants are planted and maintained by the grower over the 
next five months while they mature.

Due to the heartiness of the marijuana plant, they only have to be 
tended to about once every two weeks.

Growers return in late September or early October to harvest the 
plants, leaving the roots behind.

Marijuana plants are bright green and the leaves have seven jagged 
'fingers.' Plants grow between three and five feet tall and have an 
odour similar to that of a skunk.

Common indicators of outdoor marijuana grows are:

- - abandoned vehicles parked on side roads or trails

- - people walking in remote areas for no apparent reason

- - bags of fertilizer, planting trays or chemicals located in remote areas

- - well-trampled trails in wooded or swamp areas

- - cleared areas in swamps, woods or corn fields

- - numerous signs appear out of nowhere indicating "No Trespassing."

Call police or Crimestoppers if you suspect or locate a marijuana 
grow operation.

Do not touch the plants due to possible chemicals on them.

If confronted by a marijuana grower, just leave the area, record any 
licence plates and call police.

Police advise against approaching an outdoor grow as some of them are 
booby trapped or guarded.

In 2007, the OPP's drug unit seized over 40,000 marijuana plants from 
outdoor  grow operations.

With the public's help, police hope to increase this number in 2008.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom