More marijuana may be growing locally

Tools

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Sep 14, 2008 at 10:56 AM EST

Story Updated: Sep 14, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST

CHICAGO (AP) — With tighter security along the Mexican border, authorities in many parts of the U.S. say they are seeing an increase in the amount of locally grown marijuana.

Cook County Forest Preserve District Police Chief Richard Waszak says there has been an increase in marijuana farming operations in the Forest Preserve District's 64,000 acres in recent years.

Last month, Forest Preserve police burned about 3,000 plants gathered from half a dozen spots in the south suburbs.

And earlier this year, two men were sentenced to two years in prison in connection with tens of thousands of marijuana plants grown in a forest preserve near Barrington.

Waszak said he suspects marijuana growers are using public land to avoid having their private property seized if their crop is spotted by investigators.

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