Insurance firm pays woman for stolen marijuana plants

Associated Press

HILO, Hawai'i — A Hilo woman who smokes marijuana to treat her glaucoma received a check for $2,000 from her homeowners insurance company for the loss of four plants stolen from her yard.

Tammy VanBuskirk, 57, who has a state permit to grow a limited amount of marijuana and to use it with a doctor's approval, said the plants were stolen from her yard May 5.

Under a state law passed in 2000, patients with permits who are under a doctor's care may possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana and grow up to seven plants at a time for medical purposes.

The largest plant in VanBuskirk's yard had grown 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide and was visible from the street despite a 6-foot rock wall that the thief had to scale to get into her yard.

"I grew it in front of God and everybody," she said. "The police were well aware of the plant."

After the thief made off with the four plants, VanBuskirk filed a police report, but no arrests were made.

She then filed a claim on her homeowners policy with American Reliable Insurance Co., based in Scottsdale, Ariz., which paid her $500 per plant.

VanBuskirk bought the homeowners policy when she moved into her home about 18 months ago, and received her permit to grow and use marijuana nine months later.