Primary Cannabis Cultivation Areas

National Drug Intelligence Center
Domestic Cannabis Cultivation Assessment 2007
February 2007
UNCLASSIFIED

According to national marijuana eradication data and law enforcement reporting, there are two primary outdoor cultivation regions in the United States: the Western Region, composed of California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, and the Appalachian Region, composed of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Eradication data for 2006 show that 89 percent (5,262,065 of 5,901,880) of outdoor plants eradicated in the United States were eradicated in these seven states (see Table 3, and Map 1 in Appendix B). These states consistently sustain high levels of outdoor cannabis cultivation because their climates are conducive to cannabis cultivation. As a result, cultivators--especially Mexican DTOs in the Western Region and Caucasian independent growers in the Appalachian Region--have established long-standing, entrenched growing operations. Other areas of increasing significance with regard to cannabis cultivation include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina; these areas have recently experienced significant increases in outdoor cultivation.

Table 3. Outdoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated in Primary Outdoor Production States, 2005-2006

State	2005	2006	Percent of Change
California	2,914,193	3,674,069	+26.1
Kentucky	734,351	557,628	-24.1
Tennessee	462,904	483,231	+4.4
Hawaii	251,163	188,742	-24.9
Oregon	84,493	187,548	+122.0
Washington	137,319	115,459	-15.9
West Virginia	56,758	55,388	-2.4
Seven-State Total	4,641,181	5,262,065	+13.4
National Total	5,546,509	5,901,880	+6.4

Source: Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program; U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Indoor cannabis cultivation appears to be most pervasive in western states, primarily in California and Washington (see Table 4, and Map 2 in Appendix B). Eradication data for 2006 indicate that 61 percent (246,975 of 403,322) of indoor plants eradicated nationally were eradicated in California and Washington alone. Cannabis is cultivated by a variety of growers, including Caucasian criminal groups and independent dealers; however, cultivation by Canada-based Asian DTOs is increasing significantly.

Table 4. Indoor Cannabis Plants Eradicated in Primary Indoor Production States, 2005-2006

State	2005	2006	Percent of Change
California	107,047	203,559	+90.2
Washington	32,936	43,416	+31.8
Florida	45,217	36,172	-20.0
Hawaii	3,950	12,358	+212.9
New Hampshire	304	11,085	+3546.4
Five-State Total	189,454	306,590	+61.8
National Total	270,935	403,322	+48.9

Source: Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program; U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Law enforcement reporting indicates exceptionally high levels of cannabis cultivation (indoor and outdoor combined) in California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia. Total cannabis eradication suggests that these seven states constitute the most significant cannabis cultivation states overall (see Table 5, and Map 3 in Appendix B).

Table 5. Total Cannabis Plants Eradicated in Primary Production States, 2005-2006

State	2005	2006	Percent of Change
California	3,021,240	3,877,628	+28.3
Kentucky	736,991	558,756	-24.2
Tennessee	463,557	483,342	+4.3
Hawaii	255,113	201,100	-21.2
Oregon	91,829	194,453	+111.8
Washington	170,255	158,875	-6.7
West Virginia	57,600	57,582	0.0
Seven-State Total	4,796,585	5,531,736	+15.3
National Total	5,817,444	6,305,202	+8.4

Source: Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program; U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

To Top To Contents To Previous Page To Next Page

To Publications Page To Home Page

UNCLASSIFIED