Northern Ireland is distributing 'scratch and sniff' cards to help find cannabis factories
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is issuing "scratch and sniff" cannabis cards to help citizens sniff out cannabis farms near their homes or workplaces. The initiative comes in the wake of a 44 percent increase in Northern Ireland's cannabis factories from 2013 to 2014.
The cards mimic the scent of cannabis in its "growing state," which The Guardian clarifies has a different aroma than that of cannabis being smoked.
To help the public recognize the cannabis factories, the PSNI has released instructions for the public on the smell cards. Among the signs of cannabis factories are "covered or blacked-out windows around a property," a "strong, sickly sweet smell," "constant lighting day and night," and an "excessive amount of cables." The PSNI found 130 cannabis factories last year and has already found 49 factories this year.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In addition to the cards, the PSNI also created a handy video for detecting cannabis farms. So even if you're not in Northern Ireland, perhaps the video below will provide some insight about what's really going on in that rundown house you've been wondering about. --Meghan DeMaria
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published