By ANEEKA SIMONIS and KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THE cannabis raid on a Pakenham home on Wednesday 9 September attracted a largely critical response from the Gazette’s social media followers.
Police seized more than 230 marijuana plants from a Gallery Way rental.
Many readers hit out at the police, saying soft drugs raids are a waste of resources that would be better directed toward busting hard drug operations.
But we think it is important to get all drugs off the streets.
People often perceive cannabis as a mild or less concerning drug when compared with other illegal substances, such as crystal methamphetamine.
However police say that a large crop house has the potential to cause greater harm than a small ice lab.
“We are always looking and conducting drug investigations – cannabis or powder-related – and will continue to prioritise our resources based on the level of community harm elicited by these types of enterprises,” says Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Smith.
He says cannabis operations can fund amphetamine enterprises and organised crime with the drug derived from one plant conservatively fetching about $3000 on the streets.
And when the average growhouse produces about 100 plants every 12 weeks, it makes for a tempting $1 million annual enterprise.
Cannabis is known as a gateway drug which leads to harder drug use and its appearance as being a ‘soft drug’ makes for an easier, less intimidating experience for a first-time drug user.
According to research, cannabis is the most popular illicit drug in the country and Australians are among the biggest recreational users worldwide.
And with drug use and addiction comes a greater incidence of crime, domestic violence and community disengagement.
Yes, gone are the days of hippies smoking low-strength weed for a harmless high.
Research has shown that the mood-altering ingredient in cannabis on the street today is much stronger than it was in past.
In fact, the argument could be made that cannabis is hurting more people in Cardinia Shire than ice.
In Cardinia Shire during 2013-14, paramedics responded to 30 per cent more cannabis-related medical call-outs than for crystal methamphetamine.
Growhouses can be used to fund crime and they can also attract it.
Police are investigating the January murder of Bayles man Raymond Parker who was found dead in his home which contained a hydroponic cannabis set-up.
Snr Sgt Smith says Cardinia Shire is afflicted by the ice epidemic gripping Australia.
Far from ignoring the issue, he says police are actively pursuing those behind this sinister trade.
A cannabis crop of the size uncovered in Pakenham was clearly a commercial operation with the potential to fund other illegal activity.
The suggestion that the police should ignore such activity and allow marijuana to infiltrate the community is dangerous and naive.
