cannabisnews.com: Mary Jane In The Hot House





Mary Jane In The Hot House
Posted by FoM on February 01, 2000 at 11:08:13 PT
By Timothy Appleby
Source: Globe & Mail
Hydroponic marijuana cultivation entails creating an artificial environment that simulates optimum outdoor growing conditions. THE GEAR: Much of an RCMP warehouse outside Vancouver is given over to more than 100 plywood crates crammed with sophisticated growing equipment seized in busts and awaiting destruction.
The crates contain bags of nutrients, high-powered light bulbs, automatic timers, humidifiers, transformers, ballasts, air purifiers and odour neutralizers.Almost all of it has been imported legally from Europe and can be purchased at the dozens of hydroponic supply stores found across the Lower Mainland.It costs as little as $3,000 or $4,000 to establish a primitive but viable hydroponic operation, and growers often have a dozen or more different grow sites, including warehouses. One suspect under RCMP surveillance bought a generator that would light up 45 houses, his fifth such purchase. THE GOAL: The point of all this equipment is to enhance the marijuana's tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, the ingredient that gets you high.Even today, common Mexican "ditchweed" can still have a THC count as low as 1 per cent, while Jamaica's best product offers 12 per cent, well below B.C.'s 15 to 20 per cent plus. THE GRAFT: Growing from seeds carries quite a risk. Under a 1998 law barring the sale of "instruments and literature for illicit drug use," importing or selling seeds is punishable by a $100,000 fine or six months in jail. Initially, hundreds of pot shops across Canada were shut down.Since then, the law has been enforced sporadically, and it probably makes small difference to the huge marijuana trade. A wealth of information is available over the Internet, and many growers prefer a different method to start plants."If you give me one good two-inch cutting, in six months I'll have 200 plants," one aficionado said.And despite the smile on his face, he appeared wholly serious. ILL-GOTTEN GAINS: Growers who run afoul of the law lose more than their crops.The RCMP compound also contains scores of cars, from rusty jalopies to sporty four-wheel-drives, seized by police over the past year or two. They sit in a chain-link compound, awaiting their turn on the auction block.The warehouse is reserved for the more valuable vehicles, such as a 1999 Porsche Carrera, worth around $110,000, and a massive custom Dodge pickup with every possible option, including a VCR. Also vying for space are boats, dune bikes, a couple of handsome Harley-Davidsons and even a small plane."We set up this place because of the sheer volume in this province," one of the civilians guarding the haul said. "This is totally unique to B.C."Published: January 29, 2000Copyright © 2000 Globe Information Services Related Article:Be Careful Kicking Down the Door - 1/01/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4544.shtml
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