INSURANCE COMPANIES PAYING FOR STOLEN MEDICINAL POT

Growers Who Have Homeowners Coverage Reimbursed Up To $500 Per Plant

UKIAH (AP) -- Insurance companies are paying growers of medicinal marijuana
up to $500 per plant if a thief raids their garden.

Medicinal marijuana growers who have homeowners insurance can be reimbursed
just as with other stolen medical items, a State Farm spokeswoman told the
Ukiah Daily Journal.

Though State Farm didn't say how much it pays per stash-napping claim,
members of the Ukiah Cannabis Club -- a medicinal marijuana organization --
told the paper that they know of $500 payments.

It may be better than nothing, but it might not cover the full value of
such plants. A budding marijuana bush of high quality can fetch $4,000 on
the street.

The idea has not caught fire with all insurers.

``Companies are all over the board on this issue,'' said Aubrey Aquino of
the Insurance Information Network of California.

She pointed out one inherent difficulty that puzzles insurers: How to tell
that the plant was stolen, rather than smoked?