In YOUR Neighborhood.
Atlanta Journal -Constitution
February 22 2007

Marijuana here to stay

Advocates continue to question the legal status of cannabis.
As high technology grow operations spread into suburban
areas many are saying why not legalize it? At the same time
authorities in Hall County have discovered a professional
marijuana-growing operation in the basement of a new
three-bedroom house that was using sophisticated hydroponics
and imported high potency seeds — the second such operation
found in the same area this week.Agents found 173 high grade
Kush and Bubblegum marijuana plants at the house Wednesday
at the house in the Georgian subdivision in south Hall
County.Gainesville-Hall County drug agents and gang task
force members estimated the plants at full maturity would
have been worth $5,000 each.

Task force member Joe Amerling says hydroponics was being
used to grow the plants.Agents secured a search warrant and
located the growing operation almost identical to the first.
The system had its own irrigation system, a separate heating
and air unit to ventilate the basement, growing lights, fans
and heaters.Agents raided a house Monday — also in the area
known as Chestnut Mountain — and uncovered a basement
marijuana farm with 115 plants worth an estimated $230,000.