Police have apologised to a legal cannabis grower for accidentally destroying a legally grown crop.
Legal cannabis grower Hikurangi Hemp says police accidentally removed several cannabis plants from one of their partner growers.
Managing director Manu Caddie told Newshub a travelling police drug squad came across a partner grower's licenced hemp crop and destroyed 16 plants he had been growing for them.
Detective Sergeant Brenton Greville told Newshub that police apologised for the erroneous confiscation.
"As part of efforts to target the people who supply drugs to communities in the Eastern District, 16 legitimate hemp plants were accidently seized by police on Tuesday, December 19," he said.
"We have apologised to the owner, who has been understanding of the police error and will be reimbursed."
Mr Caddie said a lot of work went into getting ready for the cannabis to be grown and it was disappointing to have the plants removed.
"There's certainly a lot of work and energy that goes into preparing for that," he said.
"The grower has to apply to the Ministry of Health, they have to prepare the site, and prove that it's secure and well away from the public, they have to pay over $500 for the licence, and then get into accessing seed and growing the plants."
Newshub.
