Weed or bush?

My son lives in the country near Cornwal, Ontario. They have tall leafy stalks that have a bamboo or asparagus like stalk, they are at least 6 feet tall. Could anyone tell me what they are and if they are safe to handle? Picture:

 

Wish i could identify that Mary,..alas i am in Ireland so not familiar with it,..hopefully someone from the US will know it

 

Not familiar to me either but I am very far away too. I'm sure someone will have an answer for you

 

It vaguely resembles a Solanum sort (nightshade). I cannot tell for sure from your pic, though. When it blooms you will know more in terms of identification.

 

Japanese Knotweed, a very invasive species here in Ontario.

 

I've heard about that. Man, that is baaaad stuff. Really pernicious.

 

Netty got you Id'd. this stuff is nasty. mow, mow mow or resort to an herbicide spray of some kind. it is nasty. not poisonous, just aggressively invasive.

 

Thank you all for helping out.

 

At that size you may need to dig it up with as much of the root as possible.