Cannabis cultivation: Encyclopedia II - Cannabis cultivation - Detection and the law

Cannabis cultivation - Detection and the law

As cannabis and its cultivation is illegal in most parts of the world, considerable resources are committed to the interdiction of cultivation.

Outdoor cultivation is common in both rural and urban areas, with outdoor cultivators tending towards growing sativa-based strains for better response to sunlight and reduced emission of odours.

Cannabis plants blend in easily with other plants to the point that they are unidentifiable by all but the most observant. Often simple camouflage techniques can avert detection, such as mixing in cannabis plants with other bushy, leafy species. Plants started outdoors late in the season tend to grow less tall, attracting less attention when placed next to plants of similar or taller stature. Even tall plants grown among trees can be almost invisible in their camouflage.

A common technique used by many outdoor growers is to dig a hole and put a potted plant in it. This reduces a plant's height by at least a foot, reducing its visibility to neighbours, visitors and guests. Also, some growers top the plant when it is only 12 inches (30 cm) high, and grow the 2 tops horizontally along a trellis. When using this technique, it is unlikely the plant will grow to be over 3 feet (1 m) tall.

Law enforcement agencies often monitor certain wider areas, particularly areas of countryside with a significant history of outdoor cannabis cultivation. Flying above in helicopters, they use infrared cameras and other equipment that can detect cannabis by measuring the heat and reflective signature of the vegetation below. Cannabis has higher reflectivity at certain wavelengths than other rural crops such as maize (corn). Law enforcement agencies have found that the use of this technology has become necessary in their detection efforts because many growers hide cannabis among other plants, making detection with the naked eye difficult even from the air. These techniques are effective and difficult to defeat because the reflective signature of a given type of plant is difficult to change or mask.

Indoor growing has become increasingly common over the past decade, in part due to increased availability of equipment, seeds and instructions on how to cultivate. So-called grow-ops are seen by many marijuana enthusiasts as a much cheaper way in which to gain a steady, higher-quality supply of cannabis, also, on a larger scale they have proven a viable commercial venture with some law enforcement agencies finding grow-ops large enough to yield several kilograms of marijuana. More expansive grow-ops, however, are generally more susceptible to detection than smaller scale operations.

Since individual grow light power generally ranges from 250 watts to in excess of 1000 watts and remain lit for a long time each day, differences in utility bill costs are a significant security issue for growers. It is not uncommon for power companies to work with law enforcement if they witness significant increases in power usage relative to a household's previous electricity costs. Employing energy saving methods is a common way to alleviate this, for instance; switching off light bulbs when leaving rooms, purchasing energy efficient appliances, using TV's or computers less, buying lower power light bulbs and so forth.

Some strains, especially the cultivar Cannabis indica, can give off strong odors as they grow, resulting in tip-offs and eventually detection. Growers frequently use strong air fresheners to control smells as well as keeping windows firmly shut. Checking outside to see if any smells are emanating from indoors is often a necessary precaution. In short, storing plants in more isolated areas such as a basement or attic can greatly help prevent smell detection. Another perhaps more obvious solution is to simply grow a strain which possesses a weaker odor. A carbon filter, if attached correctly to a good fan and ventilation system can drastically reduce the odor produced by ones air outlet. Using this method, if one feels location permits it can be eminently useful to simply vent remaining odours outside.

Storing plants and lights away from windows and areas which may be seen by visitors is also a common practice. Keeping the entire grow op in the attic or basement can solve this problem. Some growers, finding this impractical, may cover their windows with light-resistant materials. This can solve the problem of escaping bright light but may arouse suspicion amongst neighbours and local residents.

Word of mouth can of course be as much a threat to growers as any of the above issues. Often, a few sentences of conversation overheard can result in a tip-off and thus speedy detection. It is for this reason many growers keep as quiet as possible about their cultivation.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Detection and the law", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki