POT VICTIM OF POOR SUMMER

Hemp Needs The Sun And Heat To Survive

Corn and soybean farmers aren't the only people anxious about the
cool, wet, cloudy weather this summer.

People who secretly planted marijuana in cornfields and elsewhere
across the region also are watching their potential harvests, uh, go
to pot.

"It's been cool and it's wet, so it's slowed down its growth," said
Gordon Scheifele, a research scientist and plant breeder now retired
from the University of Guelph but working with the Ontario Hemp Alliance.

"The weather is probably doing the same thing it's doing to hemp.
Normally, as young plants, they don't tolerate wet, saturated, or
soaked soil, although once it's established it can handle pretty wet
ground, but not saturated ground."

The marijuana is a different strain of the cannabis plant that
produces hemp, a product with endless commercial potential that's
still untapped, at least partly due to the notoriety of its cousin.

"In fields that are poorly drained, (marijuana) would suffer. It's
been cool and wet, so its growth is slowed down. It doesn't flower and
reach maturity as quickly," Scheifele explained.

Like other crops, hemp needs the sun and heat to thrive. In some areas
of the region, the yield is expected to be down 50% or more, while
other areas are expecting a bumper crop, Scheifele said.

"I think it (marijuana) may not be an optimum (yield) but it will
still produce a crop," he said.

Nevertheless, OPP said they plan to continue their annual crackdown on
outdoor grow-ops with aerial and ground surveys.

"Weather conditions this year, in particular this area of the
province, may have an adverse affect on marijuana crop growth and
production," said OPP Insp. Bryan Martin.

"However, experience shows our drug investigators that organized crime
groups will continue to be involved in the growth and production of
marijuana regardless of the less than ideal growing conditions."