Farmers from North Dakota and Vermont and four others trying to plant hemp seeds at the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Agency have been arrested.
Arlington County police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal says six people were charged with trespassing on Tuesday. They were among 21 people protesting the ban on farming of hemp, which is related to the illegal drug marijuana.
The Hemp Industries Association says the protesters turned to civil disobedience for the first time. The group is lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They want to grow hemp for non-drug products.
North Dakota farmer Wayne Hauge and Vermont farmer Will Allen were among those arrested. Police say they had shovels in hand but did not appear to have any drugs and caused only minor damage to the lawn.