NCJ Number
158863
Date Published
1995
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report provides information on prices for illegal cocaine, heroin, marijuana, hallucinogens, depressants, and stimulants in the United States from January 1991 through December 1994; purity levels are included for cocaine and heroin, as well as the THC potency for marijuana.
Abstract
The prices reported from all areas are used to determine the national range. The data were compiled from Drug Enforcement Administration field division reporting. Cocaine prices at the kilogram level remained relatively low in the primary importation/distribution centers of Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City as well as in most other major U.S. cities during October through December 1994. The national average purity of cocaine remained relatively high at all levels of the traffic during October through December 1994. At the kilogram, ounce, and gram levels, the purity averaged 84, 74, and 60 percent, respectively, during that time frame. For heroin, the most significant trend is continued high purity at the gram and ounce levels. During October through December 1994, purity at both the gram and ounce levels averaged 63 percent for purchases and 64 percent for seizures. During October through December 1994, the price for a pound of commercial grade marijuana ranged from $300 to $4,000; a decade ago, the price ranged from $350 to $600 per pound. Although there was some fluctuation in the price of LSD nationally over the past several years, the overall price for this hallucinogen remained relatively low. With the recent increase of methamphetamine produced both in the United States and Mexico, the price will remain relatively low, and possibly decline, at all levels of the traffic within the foreseeable future. Extensive tabular data