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National
Drug Intelligence Center
Domestic Cannabis Cultivation Assessment
2007
February 2007
Overview
Following September 11 and the resultant increased border security,
law enforcement reporting indicates that DTOs--primarily Mexican but
also Canada-based Asian DTOs (see Table 1)--had
moved many of their cannabis cultivation operations into the United
States in an attempt to reduce the risk of marijuana seizure during
cross-border transport. Since then, however, DTOs have recognized additional
benefits of domestic cannabis cultivation, such as direct access to
local drug markets, which enable them to be more responsive to market
demands, and higher profit margins for domestically grown marijuana.
These factors have contributed to a continued increase in domestic cannabis
cultivation, an assertion seemingly supported by an overall increase
in detection and eradication of outdoor cannabis during that time period
(see Table 2). Recent increases in domestic cannabis
cultivation have been accompanied by improved cultivation techniques
that produce higher potency marijuana, a practice that, if more widely
used by DTOs, could significantly increase the prevalence of higher
potency marijuana in the United States.
Table 1. Primary Cultivators
in Leading Cannabis-Growing Areas
Region |
State |
Outdoor |
Indoor |
Appalachian Region |
Kentucky |
Caucasian DTOs, criminal groups,
and independent growers |
Caucasian independent growers |
Tennessee |
Caucasian DTOs, criminal groups,
and independent growers |
Caucasian independent growers |
West Virginia |
Caucasian DTOs,
criminal groups, and independent growers |
Caucasian independent
growers |
Western Region |
California |
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups |
Asian and Caucasian DTOs and
criminal groups |
Hawaii |
Polynesian DTOs, Asian and Caucasian
criminal groups |
Asian and Caucasian groups |
Oregon |
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups |
Asian and Caucasian DTOs and
criminal groups |
Washington |
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups |
Asian and Caucasian DTOs and
criminal groups |
Other Areas of Interest |
Alabama |
Caucasian criminal groups and
independent growers |
NA* |
Arizona |
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups |
NA |
Florida |
NA |
Caucasian and Cuban DTOs and
criminal groups |
Georgia |
Caucasian criminal groups and
independent growers |
NA |
North Carolina |
Caucasian DTOs, criminal groups,
and independent growers |
NA |
*NA--not
applicable
Table 2. Domestic
Cannabis Eradication, Outdoor and Indoor Plant Seizures, 2000-2006
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
Outdoor |
2,597,798 |
3,068,632 |
3,128,800 |
3,427,923 |
2,996,225 |
3,938,151 |
4,083,433 |
Indoor |
217,105 |
236,128 |
213,040 |
223,183 |
203,896 |
270,935 |
403,322 |
Total |
2,814,903 |
3,304,760 |
3,341,840 |
3,651,106 |
3,200,121 |
4,209,086 |
4,486,755 |
Source: Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression
Program.
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