LAS VEGAS - With so many Las Vegas homes sitting empty, drug dealers see an opportunity to grow their illegal enterprises. At Tuesday night's Metro Police First Tuesday open house, the public learned the number of marijuana grow houses here is sharply on the rise.
Even upscale homes are transformed into high-tech nurseries, where pot plants are harvested. Metro says dangerous electrical wiring, potent fertilizers and black mold are common problems with grow houses that put neighbors in harm's way.
"One sign would be a house that seems to be in use, but not occupied, window coverings that prohibit people from seeing inside," said Metro Police Crime Prevention Specialist Kathy Perkins. "You might see the window blinds that have become dis-shaped for some reason because of condensation and all. You might see a lot of trash bags outside that haven't been picked up."
As the 8 News NOW I-Team reported last year, remote areas of Mount Charleston are also being turned into outdoor marijuana farms.
Police say outdoor grows pose a serious risk to the environment. They also warn hikers who stumble upon a grow to get away quickly and report it to police, because the growers are often armed.
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