Grow-op
A grow-op is a short term for a marijuana grow operation in which cannabis plants are grown in a (usually domestic) setting, sometimes with the intent of creating large amounts of marijuana for commercial purposes. The term may also apply to mass-growings of magic mushrooms. Although there are significant variations of climate in which cannabis can be cultivated, grow-ops will often make use of hydroponic technology and HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting to grow their plants indoors, and thus reduce the likelihood of detection and increase the level of control over the growing environment.
In most countries, grow-ops are illegal, and are sometimes disrupted by surprise police raids. Thieves may also target grow-ops for lucrative illegal marijuana, equipment, and even still-growing cannabis plants.
Raiding a grow-op can be a low risk endeavour compared to other drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine since, for obvious reasons, the operators tend to be "farmers" rather than "drug dealers" and will be far more hesitant to use violence or deadly force to protect either their investment in the case of a commercial grow-op or their home in the case of a domestic one.
This makes the farmers a "safe " target for police who given the choice would rather go after people who don't shoot back .
There have been calls for increased police resources to crush such operations with more vigor, and in most jurisdictions, there has been a trend towards recognizing more types of initial proof when approving search warrants, as in the case of thermal imaging evidence. Others have called for ending marijuana prohibition in order to undercut the underground market that encourages these operations, as was done with ending alcohol prohibition.
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