The first marijuana plants found growing in Duluth, Minn., in about 10 years were thriving in public view -- in a planter outside a police station.

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A reporter for the Duluth News Tribune heard talk during the weekend about "something interesting" growing outside the West Duluth police substation, the newspaper reported Tuesday.

Unaware of what was so "interesting" about the dozen or so 6-inch high plants in the planter outside the front door of the station, Janna Goerdt plucked a leaf and took it back to the newspaper office with her.

Duluth City Gardener Tom Kasper confirmed the "weed" was marijuana Monday and took the news to police Lt. John Beyer, who said the plants went unnoticed because nobody ever uses the front entrance of the station, which is usually kept locked.

"The only thing I can say is somebody has a sense of humor," Beyer said.

Kasper said it's been about 10 years since marijuana has been found growing in the northern Minnesota city.

In 1990, a 3-foot-tall marijuana plant was found thriving in the Civic Center courtyard near City Hall.