CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia State Police is on track to seize and destroy up to 200,000 marijuana plants statewide this year.

That would top the 2011 total of 185,510 plants.

Sgt. Mike Smith says that about 150,000 pot plants have been destroyed so far this year.

The locations vary from year to year. Growers move from areas targeted by the eradication program to other areas.

But marijuana crops aren't as plentiful in southern West Virginia as they once were. Smith says traditional growers in the region are aging and switching to pills.

Smith says West Virginia is ideal for growing marijuana because of its climate and terrain.