MichiganRadio

Marijuana Seizures Up ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Michigan State police have uncovered more marijuana growing operations this year with help from hunters and campers. Police have seized 40,000 plants this year, thanks to a hotline for people who discover illegal growing sites.

David Peltomaa is coordinator for HEMP, the state police program that deals with marijuana. He says the largest operations they've found in the last two years were reported by hunters.

"Typical phone call would be someone was out hunting usually on the weekend and they were their favorite hunting spot or on state land or whatever and they walk into an area and all of a sudden they find themselves surrounded by marijuana plants," says Peltomaa.

Peltomaa says most calls come in the fall because there's increased activity in the woods during the growers' time for harvesting. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio