MODESTO, Calif. -- Three people were arrested in Modesto after police seized marijuana valued at up to $80,000, but the suspects all said the pot was intended for medicinal purposes.

Authorities on Thursday seized 73 marijuana plants and about 8 pounds of harvested pot, according to Sgt. Craig Gundlach of the Modesto Police Department.

Robert Dawdy, 36, and Meuy Saeteurn, 28, were arrested. The pair lives in a home in the 4000 block of Faith Lane. Gundlach said marijuana was found growing in the house.

More pot was found at a home that Dawdy and Saeteurn rent in the 1600 block of Marston Way.

Later in the day, police arrested 39-year-old Roland Brown after investigators found marijuana that was drying in the garage of a home in the 3800 block of Wilkesboro Avenue.

All three suspects are suspected of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for the purpose of sales.

Gundlach said Brown had an expired doctor's recommendation to smoke marijuana. California law allows those with a doctor's recommendation to possess up to 8 ounces of the drug.