High-tech 'pot factories' popping up in suburban homes

SF Gate ^ | 9/23/06 | Don Thompson

[billorites]

[P-40]

I guess it is easier than trying to transport it across the borders.

[FreePaul]

Gotta put those local drug growers out of business fast. They may cut in on the lucrative import business. On the other hand they may only get ten percent of the locals the same as they do the "importers."

[DBrow]

Asian organized crime must learn that the cops watch your electric bills, especially when you use credit cards to buy HMI lights and tanks of CO2.

[steveo]

Local news has stories about fifty or so homes the area cleaned out over the last two weeks. Mrs. steveo (in the mortgage business) figured out how this works. The buyer gets an 80/20 loan (no down payment) and sets up shop. No payments are typically due for the first 60 days. Then notices of default, etc. will take another 90 days.

The electricity meter is bypassed for the growing operation, leaving a normal electric bill... The neighborhoods are all new, with no established long time residents. The front areas of the houses are set up normally, with the growing operations in the rear of the houses. Unless you have seen the news stories, you wouldn't believe how sophisticated they are.

I just gotta wonder how many buds are missing at the end of the day.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

END THE DRUG WAR NOW!

[ARealMothersSonForever]

On the other hand they may only get ten percent of the locals the same as they do the "importers."

The drug warriors will be along shortly to demand warrant-less inspections of all homes in the subdivisions. It's the only way to be sure. Since anyone with nothing to hide should just open their doors. Saves the inconvenience of a forced entry.

[P-40]

you wouldn't believe how sophisticated they are.

With so many 'gardeners' in one place...I get they could have some nice landscaping. :)

[ARealMothersSonForever]

If these guys make a market move on the tender baby spinach market; the FDA will be all over it.

[RavenATB]

"END THE DRUG WAR NOW!"

Exactly! End the drug war by winning...right now. Stop playing games with it and execute every second (or more) offender caught with more than a "user level" amount in their possession. Amend the Constitution to limit court appeals to one level/one appeal, and then when the case is lost, execute the offender the following day.

For those who are caught with less, no prison. Cane them, or whip them...and let them pick their choice of the two.

[farlander]

Except, the house looks like a christmass tree on Infrared - cops just fly the helos over and look for the heat bloom.

[Felis_irritable]

Somehow the words "half-million dollar" and "nondescript tract homes" just don't seem to go together for me. I guess I don't get out enough.

[Jagman]

In my own experience, few people on earth are as obsessed about grass as your typical upscale suburban homeowner, so it appears to be a natural fit.

[Lexington Green]

WOD - the Great Circle Jerk continues

[Wormwood]

I guess it is easier than trying to transport it across the borders.

Yes. It is.

[Wormwood]

Amend the Constitution to limit court appeals to one level/one appeal, and then when the case is lost, execute the offender the following day.

Execute them in soccer stadiums! Stone them all!

I like the way you think.

[tubebender]

Not to mention the place smells like a ton of moldy Alfalfa...

[PAR35]

Somehow the words "half-million dollar" and "nondescript tract homes" just don't seem to go together for me.

In Calif that will probably get you a 3 bedroom 1 bath 1800 sq ft with a one car garage.

[DeweyCA]

It's the SF Bay area. $500k is VERY common. It is NOT high end.