Hydroponic cannabis production 'on rise'

[Oz]

Most of Australia's cannabis is being grown in suburban houses rather than far-flung bush plantations, a new report says.

 

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) says hydroponic rooms in suburbia have taken over from large outdoor plantations as the source of most of the illegally-grown plant.

 

It says well-hidden indoor crops produce stronger and more profitable marijuana.

 

Academics from The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC), based at the University of NSW, say the success of a locally-based production industry has allowed complex drug networks to grow.

 

They say sophisticated concealment techniques are also used in the distribution of large amounts of cannabis throughout the nation.

 

"It would appear that organised crime is increasingly involved in the cultivation of cannabis," NCPIC director Professor Jan Copeland said.

 

Several police operations in western Sydney earlier this year uncovered dozens of hydroponic operations worth million of US dollars which were run out of ordinary suburban homes.

 

A NCPIC report also found hydroponically grown cannabis was the most commonly detected form of the plant.

 

"This is probably more to do with there being a greater number of hydroponic cannabis crops than outdoor crops," the report's author Kate Willis wrote.

 

The report said it was unlikely the hydroponic industry would slow in the short to medium term.

 

But while it examines the growth of suburban house plantations, the NCPIC is also worried by evidence from Europe showing some growers have contaminated cannabis to maximise crop yields.

 

"In addition to fertilisers and chemicals, such as pesticides, there have been reports of glass beads being added to the plant in the UK to mimic the appearance of greater potency," Ms Copeland said.

 

In Germany there were instances where lead particles were added to increase weight of the drug, she said.

 

"These occurrences, although rare, are of great concern and have resulted in hospitalisations," she said.

 

The NCPIC says most of the cannabis distributed across the country is grown in Australia.

 

In one recent NSW police investigation, dubbed Operation Moonlight, 2,000 plants worth $11 million were seized in raids in houses in Blair Athol and nearby Bradbury in south western Sydney in May.

 

Strike Force Pennington, a major anti-cannabis operation continuing in Sydney's west, has raided 15 houses, seizing more than $6 million worth of cannabis and charging nine people.

Author: ?

Date: 24/07/08

Source: SMH

Copyright: 2008. The Sydney Morning Herald

[WantDaChronic]

the reason for the rise in hydroponically grown cannabis has nothing to do with potency or profits at the commercial level, infact unless an indoor grower gets all their equipment and electricity for free they tend to make bugger all for the risk they are taking

 

outdoor grown plants are not as strong as indoor grown plants because they lose a little resin in bad weather, but they use no electricity and can easily yield 10x what indoor grown plants can...so with that in mind why would anyone grow indoors? well there is a simple reason for that which is we growers intend on reaping the rewards for our hard work instead of having some kid or pig decide they want the plants instead. if the police backed off and everyone was able to legally grow their own without the fear of having them stolen by theives and pigs alike im sure there would be atleast 50 plants grown on each block and people will be shocked as shit when they find out that not only goes granny like a toke here and there, she knows how to grow real good shit too

[freddie]

"It would appear that organised crime is increasingly involved in the cultivation of cannabis," NCPIC director Professor Jan Copeland said.

So the war on cannabis is resulting in a higher involvement by organised crime? Does that tell you something? If this isn't the biggest advertisement for allowing home cultivation I don't know what is.

 

But while it examines the growth of suburban house plantations, the NCPIC is also worried by evidence from Europe showing some growers have contaminated cannabis to maximise crop yields.

 

"In addition to fertilisers and chemicals, such as pesticides, there have been reports of glass beads being added to the plant in the UK to mimic the appearance of greater potency," Ms Copeland said.

 

In Germany there were instances where lead particles were added to increase weight of the drug, she said.

 

"These occurrences, although rare, are of great concern and have resulted in hospitalisations," she said.

 

This hasn't happened here. Again though, it makes sense to grow your own.

 

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC),

 

A waste of space (and taxpayers money). I like research but this mob are a joke.

Edited July 24, 2008 by freddie

[mull]

Fully agree and backup WDC and freddies comments.

 

Also interesting to note the NCPIC is 'weighing' up the 'success' of the cannabis front of drug war, in US dollars now.

 

western Sydney earlier this year uncovered dozens of hydroponic operations worth million of US dollars

 

 

Perhaps the academics at NCPIC fear local funding is losing it's 'potency'..

[canaman]

Well I just looked up the website!

 

http://ncpic.org.au/cannabisusers/

 

Wonder what they would say if we called the Cannabis Information and Help Line (1800 30 40 50 free call!) and asked for help with growing??

 

Hey it's funded by tax payers like us!!