### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/27 "2010-02-26T01:55:09Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> Actually, I would expect that you can’t grow MJ in Calgary _outside_ this time of year.
If our Calgary neighbour’s back yard was any indication, one can certainly grow it outside in that city during the spring, summer, and fall.
---
### Author:  [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/28 "2010-02-26T02:05:28Z")
Just to add to the issue of the spread of the fire, here’s what happened with the fire trucks (straight from the horses mouth) - the guys at the fire hall are responsible for ensuring the exit from the garage is clear to the road (nope, the city doesn’t provide this service to the fire halls). The guys went out and shoveled it all just before bed. We were having a snow storm of epic proportions that night, so when the tones went off, and they jumped in the trucks and opened the door, there was a SIX foot drift in front of half the door. The guys jumped out of the truck, grabbed shovels, and spent about 5 or 6 minutes digging themselves out.
Once they arrived into the neighborhood - which is not routinely cleared by the city - the trucks started getting stuck. At the curve of road onto the street of the fires, the first engine got stuck. As it was trying to power through, it slipped sideways and essentially blocked the road for the other engines behind it. So, the guys got out and started shoveling. I think they finally got there 15 - 17 minutes after the first tones went off.
That, plus the shitty building codes in the city which allow for non-fire resistant materials as well as super close construction of houses in these new neighborhoods, all led to this horrible fire. Thank goodness no one died (except for the animals). Personally, I think the city should be held partly responsible for this.
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### Author:  [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/29 "2010-02-26T02:09:24Z")
> [@Spoons](#):
>
> If our Calgary neighbour’s back yard was any indication, one can certainly grow it outside in that city during the spring, summer, and fall.
People don’t only smoke pot in the spring, summer and fall! Plus, you can’t grow too much or you’ll certainly be reported. These guys grow millions of dollars of pot in the basement.
Plus, being able to control the grow op climate produces primo weed.
---
### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/30 "2010-02-26T02:11:13Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#):
>
> \Personally, I think the city should be held partly responsible for this.
That’s an interesting idea. The more I hear, the luckier the 11 people who didn’t die that night are sounding.
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### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/31 "2010-02-26T02:29:50Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#):
>
> People don’t only smoke pot in the spring, summer and fall! Plus, you can’t grow too much or you’ll certainly be reported. These guys grow millions of dollars of pot in the basement.
Oh, I’m aware of that. But the question upthread dealt with whether you could grow pot outdoors in Canada. Our Calgary neighbour, who did not–shall we say, commercially cultivate–certainly could. A Calgary winter is definitely not a growing season, but I’m sure he harvested enough for him–and quite possibly, a number of his friends–to get him through the winter.
Me, I just grew tomatoes and peppers in our yard. When it came to gardening, I guess I was boring. At least, compared to the neighbour.
---
### Author:  [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/32 "2010-02-26T02:39:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#):
>
> Oh, I’m aware of that. But the question upthread dealt with whether you could grow pot outdoors in Canada. Our Calgary neighbour, who did not–shall we say, commercially cultivate–certainly could. A Calgary winter is definitely not a growing season, but I’m sure he harvested enough for him–and quite possibly, a number of his friends–to get him through the winter.
>
> Me, I just grew tomatoes and peppers in our yard. When it came to gardening, I guess I was boring. At least, compared to the neighbour.
I see! Yes, I have relatives that grow a couple of plants in the garden in the summer as well.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/33 "2010-02-26T04:44:38Z")
You have to buy the short growing season seeds. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/34 "2010-02-26T08:29:38Z")
> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> See, this is why we need to legalize marijuana. So that people who want to grow and prepare it can do so openly in proper industrial/commercial/agricultural facilities. They should have gone after this guy for everything from building-code violations to breaking industrial-safety regs.
The most that your going to get is possession being legal, cultivation will be probably handled by the tobacco companies, who can pretty much put any grow op out of business when weed goes legit.
Declan
---
### Author:  [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/35 "2010-02-26T14:46:09Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#):
>
> Just to add to the issue of the spread of the fire, here’s what happened with the fire trucks (straight from the horses mouth) - the guys at the fire hall are responsible for ensuring the exit from the garage is clear to the road (nope, the city doesn’t provide this service to the fire halls). The guys went out and shoveled it all just before bed. We were having a snow storm of epic proportions that night, so when the tones went off, and they jumped in the trucks and opened the door, there was a SIX foot drift in front of half the door. The guys jumped out of the truck, grabbed shovels, and spent about 5 or 6 minutes digging themselves out.
>
> Once they arrived into the neighborhood - which is not routinely cleared by the city - the trucks started getting stuck. At the curve of road onto the street of the fires, the first engine got stuck. As it was trying to power through, it slipped sideways and essentially blocked the road for the other engines behind it. So, the guys got out and started shoveling. I think they finally got there 15 - 17 minutes after the first tones went off.
Looking at that I would think an ideal solution would be to equip one (or more) of the fire trucks with a plow. Then they could clear their own way to the fire.
---
### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/36 "2010-02-26T15:24:34Z")
> [@Declan](#):
>
> The most that your going to get is possession being legal, cultivation will be probably handled by the tobacco companies, who can pretty much put any grow op out of business when weed goes legit.
Is home cultivation of tobacco generally illegal? I’m now wondering why you don’t home-grow versions, like home-brew beer.
---
### Author:  [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/37 "2010-02-26T15:33:21Z")
> [@Declan](#):
>
> The most that your going to get is possession being legal, cultivation will be probably handled by the tobacco companies, who can pretty much put any grow op out of business when weed goes legit.
I have no idea where this persistent story is coming from. Sure, the tobacco companies have some experience growing heavily regulated and expensive crops, but ordinary farming for food is a much larger industry and it’s not as if weed is hard to grow - there are massive amounts of farmers who could grow huge loads of the stuff.
ETA: see also the brewers and especially wine companies.
---
### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/38 "2010-02-26T16:45:10Z")
> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> Is home cultivation of tobacco generally illegal? I’m now wondering why you don’t home-grow versions, like home-brew beer.
No, you can grow your own, if you like. The problem is that generally speaking, tobacco isn’t smokeable until it’s cured. Most folks don’t have the equipment to flue-cure tobacco for cigarettes, or the knowledge and patience to cure tobacco for pipes and cigars. Then, there’s the problem of cutting–lots of time and patience and skill to do a navy cut by hand, and a navy cut is necessary for cigarette tobacco.
Most tobacco is grown by independent farmers, who sell their crop to the tobacco companies. I used to work with a guy who grew up on a tobacco farm in Ontario. His brother still worked the family farm, and sold the tobacco to a tobacco company.
---
### Author:  [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/39 "2010-02-26T17:07:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> He’s running a illegal operation, he’s a criminal, and you expect him to give a damn about his neighbors?
There’s something about growing pot (_pot_, for chri) that makes someone an inconsiderate asshole?
---
### Author:  [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-nomination-for-dogshit-of-the-year-award-grow-op-fire-culprit/530370/40 "2010-02-26T17:34:51Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#):
>
> You are SUCH a girl. 😉 While there is certainly a piercing, painful experience to being hit in the penis, if you really want to hurt a guy, you gotta catch 'im in the bean-bag. That’s where the crippling, want to vomit up bile sensation comes from.
However, if it’s good enough for The Onion, it’s good enough for me: [Who Needs a Good Cock-Punching?](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/36890)
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