Thieves Steal Hemp Plants From East Windsor Farms

EAST WINDSOR, CT — Thieves are trespassing on hemp farmers' fields and stealing their plants, according to police. The town has licensed hemp fields growing by licensed farmers

"The fields look and smell like they contain marijuana plants but they don’t, police said in a Facebook post. "The Connecticut Department of Agriculture inspects the fields and tests the plants to ensure they do not contain THC, which is the component in marijuana that produces the high.

"Recently we have investigated numerous instances where suspects are trespassing on the property and stealing the hemp plants. This is costing our hard working farmers money. The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association has estimated that an acre of hemp could generate 500 to 1,500 pounds of dried flowers and reap profits of $37,500 to $150,000."

Police said that they believe the suspects are stealing the hemp plants because they think it will get them high. Patrols have been increased to curb this activity.