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National Drug Intelligence Center |
Cannabis cultivation and eradication levels in Washington were relatively high during 2008. According to DCE/SP data, eradication of indoor and outdoor cannabis plants in Washington accounted for 7 percent of all plants eradicated in the United States (580,415 of 8,013,308 plants) in 2008. Washington State Patrol eradication data show that outdoor eradication levels were highest in Yakima, Chelan, Benton, Walla Walla, and Grant Counties,7 accounting for 74 percent (400,103 of 538,918 plants) of all outdoor plants eradicated in Washington in 2008. (See Figure 6.) Indoor cannabis eradication levels in Washington were highest in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Spokane, and Thurston Counties,8 accounting for 84 percent (35,151 of 41,764 plants) of all indoor plants eradicated in Washington in 2008. (See Figure 7.)
Figure 6. Outdoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated and Sites Seized in Washington, by County, 2008
Source: Washington State Patrol.
Figure 7. Indoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated in Washington, by County, 2008
Source: Washington State Patrol.
Ongoing drought conditions and law enforcement pressure contributed to a 28 percent decrease in the number of cannabis plants eradicated in Kentucky between 2007 (492,615 plants) and 2008 (353,170 plants). This decrease resulted in lower eradication levels in Kentucky during the year, since fewer plants were present in the state. According to DCE/SP data, eradication of indoor and outdoor cannabis plants in Kentucky (353,170 plants) accounted for 4 percent of all plants eradicated in the United States (8,013,308 plants). Furthermore, Kentucky State Police eradication data show that outdoor eradication levels were highest in Harlan, Knox, Bell, Wayne, and Owsley Counties,9 accounting for 36 percent (123,825 of 348,254) of all outdoor plants eradicated in Kentucky in 2008. (See Figure 8.) Cannabis eradication at indoor grow sites in Kentucky was much lower than at outdoor grow sites. During 2008, 4,191 plants were eradicated from indoor cultivation operations in Kentucky, representing less than 1 percent of all cannabis plants eradicated from indoor grow sites in the United States (450,986 plants). Indoor cultivation sites were reported in 32 counties in Kentucky, with the majority of plants eradicated from Wayne, Spencer, Carter, Washington, and Garrard Counties10 (2,873 plants of 4,191 plants). (See Figure 9.)
Figure 8. Outdoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated and Sites Seized in Kentucky, by County, 2008
Source: Kentucky State Police.
Figure 9. Indoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated in Kentucky, by County, 2008
Source: Kentucky State Police.
Eradication statistics in Tennessee were relatively high in 2008, largely due to the discovery and eradication of one large-scale grow in eastern Tennessee. According to DCE/SP data, eradication of indoor and outdoor plants in Tennessee (539,370 plants) accounted for 7 percent of all plants eradicated in the United States (8,013,308 plants). Furthermore, data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) show that the eradication of indoor and outdoor cannabis plants in Tennessee increased from 178,322 plants in 2007 to 539,422 plants in 2008; this increase is attributed to the eradication of a single outdoor grow site yielding approximately 375,000 plants in 2008. TBI data also show that outdoor eradication levels were highest in Cocke, Cumberland, Wayne, Lawrence, and Hickman Counties,11 accounting for 82 percent (442,351 of 539,322 plants) in 2008. (See Figure 10.) Data from TBI also show that relatively few plants were eradicated from indoor grows in Tennessee in 2008; 100 plants were eradicated from Rutherford (70 plants) and Roane (30 plants) Counties.
Figure 10. Outdoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated and Sites Seized in Tennessee, by County, 2008
Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Cannabis cultivation and eradication in West Virginia are relatively low in comparison with the rest of the United States. DCE/SP data indicate that 146,553 plants were eradicated from indoor and outdoor cultivation operations during 2008, representing 2 percent of all cannabis plants eradicated in the country (8,013,308 plants). West Virginia State Police and West Virginia National Guard eradication data show that outdoor eradication levels were highest in Grant, Hardy, Wayne, Mingo, and Mason Counties,12 accounting for 67 percent (95,589 of 143,732) of all outdoor plants eradicated in West Virginia in 2008. Outdoor cultivation sites are most prevalent in the southwestern region of the state. (See Figure 11.) County-level data regarding the number of plants eradicated from indoor cultivation sites in West Virginia counties during 2008 is not available; however, DCE/SP data for 2008 indicate that 2,422 plants were eradicated from 36 indoor sites throughout West Virginia that year.
Figure 11. Outdoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated and Sites Seized in West Virginia, by County, 2008
Source: West Virginia State Police; West Virginia National Guard.
7.
According to the Washington State Patrol, law enforcement
authorities in the state eradicated the highest number of outdoor-grown cannabis
plants in Yakima (214,036), Chelan (85,961), Benton (43,021), Walla Walla (31,449),
and Grant (25,636) Counties in 2008.
8.
According to the Washington State Patrol, law enforcement
authorities in the state eradicated the highest number of indoor-grown cannabis
plants in King (23,222), Snohomish (5,798), Pierce (2,738), Spokane (1,999), and
Thurston (1,394) Counties in 2008.
9.
According to the Kentucky State Police, law enforcement
authorities in the state eradicated the highest number of outdoor-grown cannabis
plants in Harlan (54,678), Knox (24,462), Bell (19,397), Wayne (14,494), and Owsley
(12,464) Counties in 2008.
10.
According to the Kentucky State Police, law enforcement
authorities in the state eradicated the highest number of indoor-grown cannabis
plants in Wayne (1,018), Spencer (611), Carter (444), Washington (415), and Garrard
(385) Counties in 2008.
11.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,
law enforcement authorities eradicated the most plants from outdoor sites in Cocke
(359,685), Cumberland (34,402), Wayne (19,325), Lawrence (17,536), and Hickman (11,403)
Counties in 2008.
12.
According to the West Virginia National Guard,
law enforcement authorities eradicated the highest number of outdoor-grown cannabis
plants in Grant (30,500), Hardy (22,005), Wayne (16,732), Mingo (15,714), and Mason
(10,638) Counties in 2008.
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