Growing pot: a life sentence?

Nine suspects in Minnesota could face life in prison for running the state's largest indoor marijuana growing operation ever, KSTP says.

The indictment stated that from August 2007 to April 2008, the nine suspects conspired to grow at least 1,000 marijuana plants. When they were arrested in April, police found nearly 6,000 plants.

Does growing weed constitute a life sentence if you get busted? Does the amount of pot seized actually make it more serious?

More from KSTP:

On Tuesday, a jury found 36-year-old Lai Pham guilty on one count of conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants.

During the trial, two other defendants, 34-year-old Tung Nguyen of Bloomington and 32-year-old Tuan Dang of Inver Grove Heights also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy. Six other defendants--Thing Do, 31, Bloomington; Nam Nguyen, 33, Roseville; Thuong Nguyen, 45, Brooklyn Park; Sonny Pham, 44, Eagan; Hung Le, 48, Maplewood; and Christian Pham, 33, Brooklyn Park--pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy prior to Tuesday's trial.

Eight grow houses were discovered at two residences in Maplewood and single residences in Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and Lakeville.