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Florida's New Boom Crop: Potent Indoor Pot

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 7:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – California gets most of the attention when it comes to marijuana headlines, but Florida leads the nation in indoor pot cultivation, reports Time. Last year, police raided more than 1,000 so-called grow houses, more than double the number in 2006. The trend has the attention of authorities because pot grown indoors—with powerful lights and chemical stews—is far more potent than the stuff grown outdoors.

Thirty years ago, marijuana had THC levels of about 7%, but today's indoor pot is closer to 25%, writes Carmen Gentile. And these are no mom-and-pop operations. Sometimes a dozen or more homes are involved in a single set-up, with growers happily taking advantage of the state's real estate bust to pick up houses on the cheap. One quirk: Cops say electricians often provide their best tips, because growers usually call in experts to help mask their high energy use.

A marijuana plant grown under lights.
A marijuana plant grown under lights.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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These operations are mushrooming all over the state of Florida.

- State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle of Miami-Dade County

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Netstorm2k10
Aug 2, 2009 5:08 AM CDT
Does no one get this guys satire? Jeez, even I'm laughing.
SalParadise
Jul 30, 2009 12:55 PM CDT
This guy's better than Colbert.
Spydiggity
Jul 30, 2009 10:35 AM CDT
you know...when it gets to the point that you're arresting 1000 people for growing pot each year in one state, i think it's a safe bet that this is a law the people don't want enforced. The laws are in place to protect the people, not to create more jobs for mindless police and prison guards. and since the people have spoken and have been speaking through their actions on this issue for a long time, i think it's a safe bet that Americans do NOT want this weed to be illegal. We are making too many criminals out of people for the simple act of growing of a fucking plant that nobody really believes should be banned in the first place.

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