Number of seized marijuana plants continues to rise in Ohio

COLUMBUS — The first six weeks of Ohio’s Outdoor Marijuana Eradication program has now yielded more than 50,000 marijuana plants seized — more than was recovered in Ohio in all of 2009.

In the last two weeks of August alone, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation eradication program seized more than 30,000 marijuana plants.

“These totals indicate that our concerted effort this year on indoor as well as outdoor marijuana grows is needed,” said Ohio Attorney General Cordray. “One of the grows busted in these last two weeks involved 22,000 plants found in Pike County — another one of the increasing number of Ohio grows likely to have Mexican drug cartels at their source. These carry danger not only for those who would use the drug, but for any Ohioan who might stumble upon these illicit camps. We will continue to be aggressive in seeking them out and tearing them down.”

Other marijuana seizures in the last two weeks of August include 500 plants in Hocking County, 500 plants in Washington County, 374 plants in Lorain County and 238 plants in Knox County.

Van Wert County had its largest bust of the summer this month when 67 plants, valued at $67,000, were seized from a corn field. A tip from the Spencerville Police Department aided in the seizure.

Seized pot plants:

Year/Number

2010 — 50,000

2009 — 48,051

2008 — 40,158

2007 — 37,835

Source: BCII