A mock drug lab, most commonly used to produce methamphetamine or ecstasy, together with a shed set up for cannabis growth allowed passers-by to peer into the usually hidden world of the drug-making business.

Extraction fans, diverted power connections, chemicals and blacked-out windows were some of the suspicious signs to keep an eye on.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell said Crime Stoppers received 465 reports about illicit drug activity in 2011-12, and called on locals to increase the number.

"If you see a house where it doesn't look like anyone's home but the lights are always on, for example, is it potentially a growhouse, with heat lamps to encourage growth of, for example, cannabis?" Mr Corbell said.

"Canberrans can play a very important role in providing that piece of intelligence to police that can make the difference and break up what is a very serious crime of manufacturing and selling illicit drugs.

Mr Corbell said there were concerning figures on drug use in the ACT, with more than 600 drug-related calls to ACT Ambulance over a 12 month period, but said Canberra was no worse than other areas.

"I wouldn't say it's any more of a problem than it is around the country ... Canberra's not a stand out in that respect, but we have to be vigilant."

The Labor minister said drug laws were always kept under review, but the territory had a "very strong regime" to deal with illegal drug manufacture and sale.

Detective Sergeant Shane Scott said cannabis was the most prominent drug in the ACT.

A current trial in the ACT Supreme Court involves charges related to the alleged production of more than 200 cannabis plants in Macgregor and O'Connor.

The mock drug lab and shed are part of this month's police campaign targeting the growing and manufacture of illicit and synthetic drugs, with a focus on distribution and synthetic drugs in the community to occur in coming months.