B.C. Grow Ops Head South for Cheaper Houses

The brain drain might be plugged, but what about the green drain?

The United States' housing market collapse and increasingly softened stance on marijuana has led to more and more Canadian grow ops heading south to set up shop, according to the RCMP. Housing prices have dropped by a third, on average, across the U.S. since 2007, while real estate in B.C., especially around Vancouver, continues to be among the most expensive markets in North America. The RCMP says the flood of cheap housing in the U.S. has led to gangs, particularly those of Vietnamese descent, heading south to save on expenses and turn bigger profits. Plus, moving to areas around Seattle, San Francisco, or Houston also puts the gangs much closer to the markets where their product ends up, cutting down on transportation costs and the risks of crossing the border. The cops say there are still more grow ops than they know what to do with in B.C., but this doesn't mean we're not concerned about the possible loss of one of the country's most iconic and internationally renowned brands, B.C. Bud.