Outlook

Heroin will continue to pose the most significant drug threat to Maryland. Heroin will likely remain the predominant problem in the state's population centers and may continue to spread to suburban and rural markets. Retail quantities of high purity South American heroin will continue to be available and will likely contribute to additional deaths in the state. Maryland-based local independent dealers, Dominican and Colombian criminal groups and, to a lesser extent, West African criminal groups will remain the primary transporters of heroin into and through the state. Local independent dealers and neighborhood gangs will continue to dominate retail distribution. Baltimore will continue to be the primary heroin distribution center within the state. Salisbury, because of its location along US 13, will remain a secondary distribution city.

Cocaine, particularly crack cocaine, will continue to be a serious threat to Maryland, especially to inner-city neighborhoods, as will crime associated with the distribution and abuse of crack. Dominican and Colombian criminal groups and local independent dealers will continue to be the primary transporters of powdered cocaine into Maryland. These groups, along with Jamaican criminal groups and African American gangs, will continue to dominate wholesale distribution. Local independent dealers and loosely organized neighborhood gangs will continue to dominate retail distribution.

Marijuana will remain the most frequently abused drug in Maryland. Marijuana will continue to be readily available throughout the state and, if demand increases, in-state cannabis cultivation could increase as well. Jamaican criminal groups with access to well-developed supply and distribution networks will likely remain the principal wholesale distributors of Mexico-produced marijuana in Maryland. Local independent dealers and OMGs are likely to continue as the dominant retail distributors of marijuana produced in the state.

ODDs, particularly MDMA, will continue to gain in popularity in Maryland. The availability and abuse of MDMA at nightclubs, raves, and on high school and college campuses are likely to increase. Diverted pharmaceuticals, especially OxyContin, will continue to pose a growing threat to Maryland. Prescription drugs will continue to be diverted via doctor shopping and prescription fraud. Theft of pharmaceuticals from practitioners and pharmacies may become a more serious problem.

Methamphetamine will likely be an increasing but low threat to most of Maryland. Mexican criminal groups will likely expand distribution networks from Virginia to Maryland, especially along the Eastern Shore. The methamphetamine threat to Maryland will likely remain lower than that posed by other illicit drugs.

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