Former brewery exposed as marijuana grow site The Canadian Press Sunday, January 11, 2004 BARRIE -- More than 100 police officers converged on the site of a former Molson brewery yesterday, exposing what they say is the largest marijuana growing operation in Ontario history. Ten people were arrested and officers hunted for others possibly hiding in the massive three-storey building. "The building is very elaborate," said Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill Crate. "There's concerns about booby traps, there's concerns about hydro and the way that it's set up." Thousands of marijuana plants, being cultivated with sophisticated watering and chemical grow devices, are believed to be on the site -- an 11,250-square-metre building located in an industrial area. "You drive by this brewery on the 400 highway," said Supt. Crate. "I find it quite interesting that something is occurring like this under everybody's nose." Supt. Crate said the police have never seen a growing operation of this magnitude. The 10 people arrested put up no resistance, he said, and charges will be laid in the next few days. Molson closed the brewery in August of 2000, laying off 400 people. A Molson spokesman said yesterday that the brewery has sat idle since it was sold. Television station CKVR reported that For Lease signs could be spotted dangling from the concrete building.