The Times Advocate, 2005-06-01, Page 393-3325
FLAT OF 12 san
ANNUALS:.�.
Wednesday,June 1, 2005
Exeter Times -Advocate
3
Marijuana problem "not going away"
Huron OPP Const. Dave Gillan spoke on the preva-
lence of illegal drugs in the county last week at a
community forum at South Huron District High
School. (photo/Scott Nixon)
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Battling the
illegal drug trade in
Canada is "like standing in
the Bay of Fundy trying to
kick the tide out, accord-
ing to a video played at a
community forum on drug
awareness last week at
South Huron District High
School.
South Huron District
High School's School
Council hosted its final
community forum of the
school year last week, and
those in attendance lis-
tened to Huron OPP Const.
Dave Gillan share his
knowledge on illegal drugs
and how the OPP fight the
problem.
Gillan said officers gen-
erally know who the drug
sellers in the county are,
but they need enough evi-
dence and witnesses to lay
charges.
He said there is "lots" of
marijuana in the county,
while cocaine is rearing its
ugly head again.
Gillan showed an OPP
video called, "Grow House
Menace," which stated the
costs of setting up a mari-
juana grow operation are
quickly recoverable. In
fact, the narrator
described marijuana as
one of Canada's most
lucrative exports due to
the marijuana crackdown
in the United States.
One of the problems with
grow ops is that they just
aren't simply growing pot,
the profits are used as a
means for organized crim-
inals to commit other
crimes. Profits are often
laundered or used in the
cocaine trade. Gillan said
many thefts, such as the
rash of ATV thefts, are
used to fund drug users'
habits.
Assaults and homicides
have been directly linked
to grow ops.
Grow ops are also dan-
gerous. Often, those in
charge of the grow ops
steal their hydro through
unsafe practices of
bypassing their hydro
meters, leading to the pos-
sibility of electrocution,
fires and explosions. The
homes are often full of
toxic mould resulting from
the high humidity needed
to grow the marijuana.
There are also often
clever but dangerous
booby traps set to stop
outsiders from getting into
the grow op.
"The menace of grow
houses is not going away
any time soon," the video
stated.
Sentences for grow ops
range from fines to house
arrest to jail time.
Gillan said the buzz cre-
ated by pot is much
stronger than it used to be
— some marijuana com-
ing out of British Columbia
has a THC level (the psy-
choactive ingredient of
cannabis) of 27 per cent,
as opposed to the two to
four per cent seen hi the
1960s.
"Marijuana is really,
really prevalent now," Gill
said, adding Huron OPP
have seen marijuana in
the public schools, some-
thing parents should be
aware of.
Gill said marijuana can
Funding to improve water quality
By Stephanie Mandziuk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Farmers,
rural landowners and
community groups can
take advantage of govern-
ment funding to improve
surface and ground water
cuality•
The County of Huron has
committed $300,000 to
stewardship projects
across our region.
The Huron Clean Water
Project will focus on a
number of areas includ-
ing: erosion control mea-
sures, livestock fencing,
fragile land retirement,
well head protection and
well decommissioning.
The program does not
cover septic system
repairs and replacements.
In order to qualify, appli-
cants must prove the
existing situation is
impairing water quality
and the proposed solution
will improve water quali-
ty.
The Ausable Bayfield
and Mailtland Valley
Conservation Authorities
are working together to
review proposals and
implement changes.
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be seen as a gateway drug
by which some users pro-
ceed into hard drugs such
as heroin and cocaine.
While $15 can buy you
two to four joints, a
cocaine habit can cost an
addict $1,000 a day.
Gillan said speed is
becoming a real danger in
the community. He
described it as "a two-year
death sentence" that gives
the user extraordinary
highs and lows.
Gillan said he once
watched a speed user cut
his grass for nine hours
straight.
He said ecstasy is anoth-
er "extremely addictive"
and dangerous drug.
Heroin isn't prevalent in
Huron County, Gill said,
but it can be found.
Steroids are still popular
in schools. While users are
"very secretive" about
steroids, they aren't diffi-
cult to buy.
Gillan said alcohol use
among youth is always a
concern. He said he has
seen students as young as
14 charged with using
alcohol, although because
they are under 16, the
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Gillan said he tells stu-
dents experimenting with
drugs is like a "slippery
slope."
"We're here for safety
and making sure you're
here tomorrow," he said.
Last week's forum was
the last of five such meet-
ings the School Council
hosted on teen issues.
Previous topics included
the Internet, bullying, sui-
cide and self harm aware-
ness and parental rights
and responsibilities. Chair
Karen Brown said more
forums will be held next
year.
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