FruityBud
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Almost 4.5 million marijuana plants were seized last year in the United States but growing one of America's largest illegal cash crops isn't showing signs of slowing. Instead federal and state officials think growers are moving their illegal operations indoors in large numbers, including in Springfield.
These places have a nick name among law enforcement officers. They're called pot palaces. They're homes meant for families to live-in but are being used for cultivating marijuana. A trend officials say is growing across the country.
Police have evidential photographs of shelves and shelves of marijuana found inside a Springfield home. The cultivators are awaiting trial but police say its just one of many indoor growing operations which may soon have people wondering how well they know their neighbors.
Margaret Roscoe found out her neighbor was arrested for an indoor grow operation. Roscoe says, "He's a nice guy. He looks a little like a white Bob Marley." Roscoe found out her Marley-look-alike neighbor was involved in another investigation that started earlier this month when someone smelled pot in this downtown apartment. That investigation led police to three other unassuming homes, including the one next door to her. Roscoe says, "I had no clue what's so ever." Officials say staying under the radar is the goal. Springfield Police Officer Grant Story says, "When houses are separated by about 15-20 feet it's not unbelievable that something like this could go undetected.
The National Drug Intelligence Center statistics state officials found 71% more indoor operations in 2006 then in years past. They say cultivators are moving to the suburbs in record numbers because they can grow year round, higher potency drugs. Story says, "No matter what you think about marijuana's harmlessness its still about the money." Roscoe agrees she says, Every week he (her neighbor) had a different vehicle, high dollar vehicles." Police say high dollar indoor operations can bring violence if a drug user tries to steal the stash or gets arrested. Story says, "More than likely they'll sell them out to stay out of a drug charge."
Police say they need people to keep an eye out for the kind of weed that doesn't grow in the front yard in order to keep drug dealers out of their neighborhood.
Here are a few tips on how to spot a pot palace. Police say any sign that the home doesn't look lived in like tall grass, covered or boarded up windows especially in the basement and of course a strong musky scent.
As for the two men arrested for the four different indoor growing operations, police say prosecutors are waiting for crime lab results to file charges. Those men were growing inside rental houses, so landlords also need to be aware. An indoor growing operation can destroy a home with mold and moisture.
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/14869241.html?skipthumb=Y#.
These places have a nick name among law enforcement officers. They're called pot palaces. They're homes meant for families to live-in but are being used for cultivating marijuana. A trend officials say is growing across the country.
Police have evidential photographs of shelves and shelves of marijuana found inside a Springfield home. The cultivators are awaiting trial but police say its just one of many indoor growing operations which may soon have people wondering how well they know their neighbors.
Margaret Roscoe found out her neighbor was arrested for an indoor grow operation. Roscoe says, "He's a nice guy. He looks a little like a white Bob Marley." Roscoe found out her Marley-look-alike neighbor was involved in another investigation that started earlier this month when someone smelled pot in this downtown apartment. That investigation led police to three other unassuming homes, including the one next door to her. Roscoe says, "I had no clue what's so ever." Officials say staying under the radar is the goal. Springfield Police Officer Grant Story says, "When houses are separated by about 15-20 feet it's not unbelievable that something like this could go undetected.
The National Drug Intelligence Center statistics state officials found 71% more indoor operations in 2006 then in years past. They say cultivators are moving to the suburbs in record numbers because they can grow year round, higher potency drugs. Story says, "No matter what you think about marijuana's harmlessness its still about the money." Roscoe agrees she says, Every week he (her neighbor) had a different vehicle, high dollar vehicles." Police say high dollar indoor operations can bring violence if a drug user tries to steal the stash or gets arrested. Story says, "More than likely they'll sell them out to stay out of a drug charge."
Police say they need people to keep an eye out for the kind of weed that doesn't grow in the front yard in order to keep drug dealers out of their neighborhood.
Here are a few tips on how to spot a pot palace. Police say any sign that the home doesn't look lived in like tall grass, covered or boarded up windows especially in the basement and of course a strong musky scent.
As for the two men arrested for the four different indoor growing operations, police say prosecutors are waiting for crime lab results to file charges. Those men were growing inside rental houses, so landlords also need to be aware. An indoor growing operation can destroy a home with mold and moisture.
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/14869241.html?skipthumb=Y#.
