HEMP FIELD ATTRACTS GARDEN RAIDERS

VICTORIA (CP) -- A hemp farmer near Victoria is busy dealing with
curious pests.

It seems hordes of young people have taken to raiding Vern Mitchell's
four-hectare hemp field, located in a rural area north of the
provincial capital.

Mitchell recently called in the police after he saw one youth carrying
six large bags of his crop.

Hemp has recently been introduced as an experimental crop on southern
Vancouver Island.

It is not as potent as marijuana, but smells and looks like the
popular, but illegal plant.

Police recently charged a 22-year-old man with theft after nabbing him
at Mitchell hemp farm.

Police have also suggested Mitchell build a fence around his crop,
said Central Saanich Police Sgt. Chris Morrison.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry