THIEVES PUT HEMP CROP AT RISK

Jim Geiwitz wants everyone to know that farmers in Saanichton are growing
cannabis. "We're kind of desperate to get the word out," he says.
Desperate, because the plants aren't being grown for marijuana, but to
produce hemp fibre and seeds - and people have been stealing the plants
because they don't know the difference.

Earlier this year Health Canada legalized the cultivation of industrial
hemp, a hard-working strain of the cannabis plant that contains virtually
no THC, the chemical that gives marijuana smokers their high. Now five
experimental crops of hemp are growing on Vancouver Island, including two
in Saanichton.

Businesses are interested in buying these crops. According to Geiwitz,
manager of the Pacific Islands Hemp Growers' Co-op, Thrifty Foods wants to
use the nutritious hemp seeds in baked goods, and Fletcher Challenge has
discussed converting part of its Crofton mill to process hemp fibre into
paper.

But the new industry is in danger. Geiwitz says police have arrested six
thieves on the Saanichton farms recently - including two teenagers that
were caught hauling away over 2,000 plants.

"These thefts are going to make Ottawa nervous," worries Geiwitz, who fears
that hemp will be recriminalized. Worse yet, he's afraid that people will
sell the hemp flowers as expensive marijuana - they look identical but
contain almost no THC - and then get beaten up in a drug deal gone bad.

To combat the problem, Geiwitz and the hemp farmers have posted
informational signs around the crops. They're also planning to tour local
schools and set up a table at this weekend's Saanich Fall Fair, where
they'll speak about the virtues of hemp.

"It's got 25,000 commercial uses," says Geiwitz. "It really is a marvelous
crop.