Authorities in Florida said a man arrested for cultivating marijuana plants told them he had done his research before growing the cannabis.

Okaloosa County sheriff's deputies said Britton Jernigan of Holt was arrested June 13 after a search of his home resulted in the seizure of 26 marijuana plants "with the root systems intact," the Northwest Florida Daily News reported Wednesday.

Jernigan told deputies he had researched marijuana growing and had given other plants to friends.

Jernigan was charged with a felony count of producing marijuana and is due in court July 17. (c) UPI