Arbeit macht frei: - Fredrick Töben

author Xueyan Zaho at Monash University looked at price variations
around the country, quantity discount (which means bulk buying), and
what would happen if governments could tax the weed. What their
research shows about the dollar value of the crop will astound most
people. ‘We estimate that nationally the marijuana market is threequarters
as large as the beer market and if you think the wine industry is
booming, consider the fact that Australians are currently spending twice as
much of marijuana as they do on wine,’ it found.
So how much is that in dollars? Well, the ABS says beer and malt
manufacturing was worth $4,085 million dollars in 03/04, and that’s
production alone. As average annual household spending on wine was
$329, that’s $758 on marijuana per household a year.
‘The 1990’s may well be remembered as the decade in which marijuana
established itself in the Australian market. During the decade, production
of the illicit drug graduated from the uncertainties of bush cultivation to
the efficiency of the home-based hydroponics, supplies multiplied, prices
fell and consumption spiralled,’ Professor Clements said.
So how many people smoke dope in Adelaide? Almost one in three, says
the National Drug Strategy survey. And that’s just the number who ‘fessed
up’ to the government pollster. That means an absolute minimum of
300,000.
SA decriminalised the ‘personal’ use of marijuana in 1987. It was a happy
hippy period. People grew up to 10 plants in the backyard and no criminal
conviction was recorded. They gave each of their plants some TLC to gain
their THC.
‘A plant can be worth up to $5,000,’ Wells (of Stickypoint) said. ‘Ten
plants is $50,000. ‘Dope growing puts food on the table, petrol in the car,
school uniforms on kids’ backs, and Christmas presents under the tree.’
But when police surveillance helicopters took to the air and discovered
large plantations, the crops moved indoors. ‘Hydroponics systems are
being used to grow cannabis on a relatively large scale’, the Bureau of
Criminal Intelligence finds.
‘Unlike external plantations, hydroponic cultivation can be used in any
region and in not regulated by growing seasons. Both residential and
industrial areas are used to establish these indoor sites. Cellars and
concealed rooms in existing residential and commercial properties are
also used.’ Wells puts it simply. ‘Outdoors you get one crop a year.
Indoors, hydroponically, three or four. It fits into people’s quarterly billpaying
cycle.’
But an indoor set-up is more expensive to set up, as it were, than its
outdoor equivalent. ‘It used to be moms and pops.’ Says one long-time
Adelaide marijuana wholesaler. ‘Pushing it indoors allowed the criminal
element in. ‘It was a backyard garden. Now because it’s bloody dangerous
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