2 men face charges of growing marijuana

Staff report

LIBERTY

Township police said two men face charges after being accused of growing marijuana in the basement of a Belmont Avenue business.

According to a police report, officers responded to the 3100 block of Belmont Avenue on Monday due to a complaint of people growing marijuana indoors. Officers met with the building’s owner, who said two men – a 21-year-old from Niles and a 24-year-old from Youngstown – rented the property for their business.

The owner gave officers permission to search the basement, and they found suspected marijuana, along with additives for growing marijuana and equipment, including a watering system and grow lights.

When police met with the tenants, they reported the Youngstown man said he bought equipment online and began to grow his own marijuana about six weeks ago to manage pain from injuries he suffered while in the Marines.

Officers say they plan to charge them with cultivating marijuana and possession of criminal tools at a later date.