NCJ Number
101767
Date Published
1985
Length
141 pages
Annotation
This report provides an overview and assessment of marijuana cultivation, trafficking, financing, and eradication in 28 States for 1984.
Abstract
Information was obtained by four intelligence analysts through personal interviews with Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials within each of the 28 States. Analysts found that the prevalent form of marijuana produced is commercial grade, followed by sinsemilla and Indian hemp. The use of public lands to cultivate marijuana has increased due to the difficulty of identifying the grower, with preferred locations being inaccessible rural areas. Growers are using smaller plots of land and dispersing the marijuana plants among crops and vegetation. Indoor areas are also used for cultivation. Most growers finance their operations from previous sales or money borrowed from another trafficker. Growers range from seasoned drug traffickers to business executives and farmers. Organized crime involvement in domestic production is not apparent; however, small, local, highly developed distribution structures exist in various regions, and marijuana is distributed through traditional mail services. Marijuana trafficking is not perceived to be a serious offense by most courts, resulting in lenient sentences and the sparse allocation of police resources to target marijuana trafficking. State-by-State information summaries.