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Police drug team busts large grow op in Calgary

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 7:46 PM EDT 12/05/08

More than 2,400 marijuana plants were found in sophisticated operation ...Read the full article

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  1. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes: Another battle apparently won in the phoney War on Drugs...

    This huge bust represents approximately 0.000001% of the industry. We are funneling billions into organized crime - tax free - while the police pretend they are solving the "problem". What a complete waste.

    OTOH we could take a big notch out of organized crime, very simply, by ending the War on Drugs and cutting off the cash flow to criminals.

    I am one Canadian who thinks cannabis is just fine, certainly less harmful than alcohol. Moreover, the "addicts" we are supposedly saving, don't want to be saved at all. And who can blame them. They are not hurting anyone, and their habit is exactly as offensive as eating chocolate. There is no rational reason for proscribing cannabis.

    Thus, not only is prohibition an utter failure, it is a policy with no real purpose. Let us end this foolishness now. I can't wait to never hear this kind of propaganda again!
  2. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    This is an aspect of pot that makes for a good argument of keeping it illegal.

    Grow-ops are not cool.

    Pot is cool, super-cool in fact, but large grow-ops with their insatiable demand for electricity are downright dangerous.

    They are two separate issues.
  3. Liam Smith from Canada writes: Prohibition doesn't work.

    Criminalization creates a criminal class.

    It's a personal choice.
  4. Liam Smith from Canada writes: Michael Sharp: I agree that grow ops aren't cool. Decriminalization could be used as a way of eliminating the grow op problem.
  5. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: What happened to growing a few plants in your backyard in the sunlight? Oh? Yah! Grow ops. Big money-maker for the police and their unreasonable approach to the problem. Bigger, many times over, than what these people can even begin to believe for organized crime. They could pay the police costs many times over any number of times during the year. Too bad but you know there are people out there selling to the highest bidder. If only you could grow a plant or two a year for yourself? Well over half a trillion dollars. We could spend 75,000 dollars a day, everyday since the time of Christ and we would still be spending that money today. Think... that is what would be happening without return for your investment. These fools are shooting fish in a barrel and not even thinking about getting to the root of the problem. Wonder how far this problem goes?
  6. Cognitively Cogitative from The Far, Far East, Canada writes: ALL drugs should be legal. Then people could get the treatment they need without being stigmitized by doing an illegal act. Truth is there is a huge law enforcement industry behind prohibition. Lots of judges, cops and prison guards would be out of work were it legal.
    We have this wonderful facility here in Vancouver called insight where junkies can administer their IV drugs in safety and yet the very drugs they are using must be bought from the street and is not supplied by the state.
  7. Eric Kirkpatrick from Vancouver, B.C., Canada writes: Was the person who entered this supposedly unoccupied house charge with unlawful entry? If there was suspicions of theft of electricity why not call the local electrical utility and turn off the power. The plants wouldn't last long. I think the money spent on this S. A. M. I. Team could of been better spent tackling some real problems like Meth labs, Tobacco smuggling, unsafe long haul trucks and government nepotism.
  8. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: To Coginitively etc - To some extent maybe, Just maybe, your comments could make sense. Providing that anyone that is using or addicted gives up their right to all medical care under ourm Health Care system and would be responsible for the full amount of health care cost provided to them (also payment up front).
  9. Eric Kirkpatrick from Vancouver, B.C., Canada writes: We're talking about marijuana here, not heroin or crack. Since the La Guardia Commission of the early 40's marijuana has been studied to death. It is not addictive! Only an obscure New Zealand study was able to identify any addictiveness. Much like that of coffee, chocolate or soap operas. And then only when consumed in such large amounts over an extended period of time as to be beyond anything the average recreational user would consume. Perhaps someone dying of AIDS or on their last days of battling cancer.
  10. Kan Tankerous from Tronna, Canada writes: Go soak your head Michael Sharp and stop trying to sound 21st century. If your party gets it's way it will be the electric chair for users and the firing squad for growers.
  11. Kan Tankerous from Tronna, Canada writes: Counterspinner chokes on CCRAP...Deport them to where? Inuvik?
  12. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    Kan Tankerous from Tronna, you're being as a weiner.

    Tell us more about the eating of babies and the dragons in the sheds.

    That's such a lame argument.

    You belittle yourself, how is anybody supposed to take that seriously?
  13. runner danchuk from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Check out Photo Op with Max Bernier and Chamas on Monteal La Presse.

    Good Read.

    Don't be afraid...Bernier is looking out for Canadian interests.

    Remeber what happened to Colin Thatcher and why?

    Please inform me as to what he is doing today. Thanks.
  14. Gordon Murray from Canada writes: Perhaps defence counsel include 'slow' Alberta energy program incentive developments

    http://www.cansia.ca/government.asp#area1

    as might have made affordable 'domestic' energy consumption absent which draw towards the principal 'charge' might never have been.

    "Dat's right, M'Lud.
    'No charge' was our last resort and we're asking for it again."

    Hydro Ontario's summer 2007 electricity rebate program
    might have INDUCED CURRENT competitive law-abidingness.
    Perhaps Alberta 'gets with it' towards Ontario's SOLAR follow up:
    http://www.gosolarontario.ca/
  15. Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: Whaaaa??? Conservative Calgary a hotbed of mega-grow ops? Harper's new best friend, and adopted City, rife with Texas-sized grow ops? Just not enough oil money to satiate the masses? Where ARE the RCMP? Don't Calgarians deserve to be treated fairly by the Law and Order crowd? It's a wonder Stockwell Day wasn't jogging in the area to see this drug deal go down...
  16. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:
    Mrs Whiggins: Diane Marie has the franchise for growing medicinal pot in Calgary (she raises money for the Liberal Potty on the side).
  17. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Anyone one wants anything to do with it, allow a certain number of plants to be grown. I think 24, I seen these headlines all my life.
    "Massive grow op"
    It grows good anywhere and works just as well, it is the genes people.
    It is the money behind the product that is causing the criminal behavior.
    Headlighting the fact that Prohibition that not work.
  18. Vern McPherson from writes:
    News ? A grow opp busted ?

    The cops here have a list pages long they are working thru LOL !! Thy only bust the ones they have time to handle and the courts have time to handle. Calgary must realy be a cowtown if this is big news.

    Leagalize the $hi! and stop all this nonsense ..........

    That from a life-long non-user ....
  19. edward prior from Canada writes: Don Portz - we've been down that road before: and the follow-up goes: as should those who ski out of bounds; who engage in dangerous sports; who eat too much red meat; alcoholics; smokers; jaywalkers; speeders yaddayaddayadda. The fact of the matter is that the state has no right to tell people what recreational drugs they can or cannot ingest. It only has the right to hold them accountable for their actions afterwards should those actions cause harm to others; nor may the state presume the fact of those actions prior to them taking place. The war on drugs is an abject failure and causes far more harm and useless destruction of property and lives than legalisation. And for what? So people should be made criminals for something that is not, really, criminal in nature? OH...but I forgot, the police do love their tools, and budgets, and photo-ops
  20. A Digby from Canada writes: " a joint initiative", you can always get a job writing for Letterman!
  21. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: To edward prior - You are correct, It has been discussed many times before. My remarks were related to the suggestion that ALL drugs be legalized, not just pot. However in my opinion, until it or any other law is made legal, we are faced with penalties when we break it. All promoters of this should endeavour to have the Govt bring it to avote for the people of Canada to decide. I personally doubt that it would pass.
    Vern - Why on every articile do you blame the Cons?? Has the Liberals been advocating the legalization of pot over these many years?? If so, why did they not do it when they had a majority???
  22. mary wells from Canada writes: Wonderful facility called insight???????????Enabling insanity...now theres a more appropriate name..........
  23. Slippery Slope from Canada writes: Who cares whether marijuana should be legal or illegal.

    The person caught is a CRIMINAL. He's not growing pot to help out people, he's doing it to make real CRIMINAL money and likely has links to organized crime.
  24. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: Slippery eel... if you grew your own there would be no need for these criminals to produce the herbal wares. They could move on up and maybe start taking the sicko drugs that they would be purveying. Like Mc Donald's we could be claiming to have saved over umpteen billion. Give the cops the money and the direction.
  25. L. van Dyk from Canada writes: On a radio show I heard a cop say... and it made a lot of sense... that the big grow-ops aren't serving the neighbourhood, they are smuggling into the U. S. for really big profits.
    Huge profits and a lot of laws broken; that sounds like incentive for guns.
    I don't know, but I think the police look on users a little differently.
  26. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: Sure legalize pot. Let pilot's have a toke before a flight, a commercial driver before they hit the road. A doctor before open heart surgery. Yeah let em all have a toke, but I nominate "Vern Mcpherson" to be the test dummy!
  27. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Anyone who thinks pot is "natural" should be given a tour of one of these grow-ops after a bust. The plants are grown under intense artificial light, with no soil whatsoever, only chemical fertilizers. There is nothing "natural" about it. This is NOT your grandmother's marijuana.
  28. Vern McPherson from writes:
    Alaistair, ..... you eat hydroponically grown tomatoes ?

    LMAO !!!
  29. garlick toast from Canada writes: prohibition is hugely supported by organized crime.it keeps the profits up.
  30. Rollo Tomasi from Haut Haut Haut, Belgium writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Anyone who thinks pot is "natural" should be given a tour of one of these grow-ops after a bust.
    --------------------------------

    You have a much better chance of getting a free product sample if you tour before the bust.
  31. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: To all those who are pro-weed. Teach your kids that if they smoke up they'll end up like Vern; the adverse effect is quite evident.
  32. Rollo Tomasi from Haut Haut Haut, Belgium writes: Why isn't the evidence donated to the government for medicinal purposes instead of destroyed and squandered?
  33. Kathleen Degelder from Tacomawashington, Canada writes: The comment section to this news article will "predictably" remain open for the rest of the day.
  34. Greg Out West from Canada writes: Kan Tankerous from Tronna, Canada writes: Go soak your head Michael Sharp and stop trying to sound 21st century. If your party gets it's way it will be the electric chair for users and the firing squad for growers.
    --------------------------------------------
    Well it's about time.
  35. Greg Out West from Canada writes: You (Greg Out West, from Canada) wrote: Kan Tankerous from Tronna, Canada writes: Go soak your head Michael Sharp and stop trying to sound 21st century. If your party gets it's way it will be the electric chair for users and the firing squad for growers.
    --------------------------------------------
    Well it's about time.

    -----------------------------------

    Kidding
  36. Marc S from Canada writes: What a total waste of time and energy. We could spend this money on soooooooooooooooooo many things that we actually need in our society.............schools, roads, libraries, parks, bridge's, low-cost housing.........why not just re-train all the out of work judge's and prison guards ???? Now here's a project for Harper to take on !!!
  37. Bob Fox from Calgary, Canada writes: It's only a crime because the government don't get their cut. They just haven't found a way to shake down that particular industry...yet.

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