Pubdate: Wed, 19 Aug 2015
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2015 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Website: http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Terry McEachern
Page: A3

'MARIJUANA' PLANTS PROVE TO BE HEMP

The Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP detachment recently solved an interesting
case of mistaken identity.

On Aug. 9, a member of the detachment responded to a call from the
public that plants resembling marijuana were growing in an area
southeast of Abernethy.

Cpl. Drew Wagner explained that the officer at the scene wasn't sure
if the plants were cannabis marijuana or hemp, so the RCMP Integrated
Organized Crime Unit South was called.

Between 200-300 plants were found in the field, but tests later
revealed the plants were hemp and not marijuana.

"Hemp and marijuana plants, they're very similar. They look very
similar in nature and they smell the same. But of course, when it
comes down to the differences, hemp can be used for industrious
purposes while marijuana is primarily used for a drug," said Wagner.

He added that the landowner didn't know that hemp plants were growing
in his field. The land was rented out a year earlier to a seeding
company. The farmer suspected that hemp seeds got mixed in with the
company's other seeds.

"It was completely inadvertent. It certainly wasn't someone growing
hemp without a permit or anything like that," Wagner said, adding that
the farmer removed the hemp crops from his property.

Similar cases of mistaken identity occurred last year between April
and October. RCMP detachments in Saskatoon and North Battleford
investigated two different fields that ended up being hemp.

Wagner said it has been about eight years since members of the
detachment have discovered an illegal, outdoor marijuana grow op.
Wagner said it is likely that the majority of illegal grow ops are
inside rather than outside.

"Whenever you leave it outside, you're at the whim of Mother Nature.
. Hemp or marijuana, they need to be tended to. There is a lot of
care and effort that goes into them if you wish to have any success."

Wagner said it is possible for illegal marijuana plants to be mixed in
with a licensed hemp crop, but that is not something the detachment
has come across.

Even if the two plants are mixed, Garry Meier said pollination from
the hemp plant would significantly reduce the THC component in the
marijuana plant.

Meier, president of the Saskatoon-based Hemp Genetics International
Inc. and a hemp farmer, said contact with the police is uncommon. He
has only heard about three previous instances of hemp growers being
contacted by the RCMP. "As long as the paperwork is in place, it's
just fine," he said. "We don't mind that at all."

Since 1998, potential hemp growers in Canada are required to apply to
Health Canada for a licence and can only plant approved seeds with
less than 0.3 per cent of THC (tetrahydrocannibol) - the drug
ingredient in marijuana. Applicants need to provide a criminal record
check as well as GPS co-ordinates of the grow area. Licences need to
be renewed every year.

According to Health Canada, there are 114 licensed hemp growers in
Saskatchewan. Some common uses include clothing, rope, paper, food
products, cosmetics and fuel.
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MAP posted-by: Matt