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Pulse Check
National Trends in Drug Abuse
Winter 1998
Table 7
Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana
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City
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Los Angeles, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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Denver, CO
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Use
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Stable
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Increase
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Stable at high level
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Who's Using/
Change in Users
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Based on treatment admissions: 42% under 17 years old; 64% male, 36% female; 37% Latino
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Both young and older users; people who use heroin and cocaine often use marijuana
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60% Caucasian; 72% males, 28% females; much younger group of users than other drugs
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Drugs in Combination
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Alcohol
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Alcohol
Heroin
Cocaine
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Alcohol
Amphetamines (some)
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Who's Selling
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Caucasians, Mexicans
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All different groups
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Price/Purity
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Mexican: $10 per gram, $60-80 per ounce, $300-500 per pound. Domestic Outdoor: $25 per gram, $200-250 per ounce, $1,000-1,200 per pound. Domestic Indoor: $60-80 per gram, $400-600 per ounce, $2,500-6,000 per pound
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$10 per gram, $400 per ounce, $2800 per pound
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Large variability dependent upon quality; $100-600 per ounce; $700-5,000 per pound. Prices may have increased due to hydroponic growth
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Other/
Comments
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In California, most marijuana is grown indoors
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Table 7 (cont'd)
Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana
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City
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Bridgeport, CT
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Newark, DE
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Miami, FL
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Use
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Increase
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Stable at high level
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Stable
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Who's Using/
Change in Users
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Increased incidence among all cultures, socioeconomic groups, ages
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Increased and high level of use by teenagers and young adults
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Pervasive among youth; occasional use common in high socioeconomic group
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Drugs in Combination
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Alcohol
Cocaine (some)
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Alcohol
Cocaine
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Alcohol
Cocaine
Tobacco
Heroin
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Who's Selling
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15-25 year olds at street level; don't usually sell other drugs
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Two groups of sellers: typical group selling lower quality, young males running higher quality for hydroponic growers; don't usually sell other drugs
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Varies; don't usually sell other drugs
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Price/Purity
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$10 per bag; good quality
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Increase in high quality hydroponic marijuana, marijuana imported from California and New England
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$25-50 per 1/8 ounce (depending upon quality)
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Other/
Comments
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Still see lower quality marijuana laced with PCP, insecticide, jimson weed
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Table 7 (cont'd)
Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana
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City
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St. Petersburg, FL
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Honolulu, HI
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Chicago, IL
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Use
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Most prevalent drug used
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Primary drug of choice
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Slowed increase in use
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Who's Using/
Change in Users
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Not one particular group; crosses all lines
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All ages, as young as early teens; both males and females
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All ethnicities; increased rate of use among Hispanic population; prevalence higher among Caucasian and African-American groups; higher prevalence in males than females; possible decrease in use among youth and increase in use among adults.
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Drugs in Combination
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Some use marijuana exclusively, younger frequent users often also use MDMA, LSD, cocaine, alcohol.
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All other drugs
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Crack ("primos"),
Dipped in embalming fluid or PCP ("Happy sticks")
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Who's Selling
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Lots of people, primarily a peer-based distribution system
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Mexican Nationals
Local growers
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Youth; less controlled market; some sell other drugs
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Price/Purity
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Varies, $135-350 per ounce depending upon perceived quality.
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$100-200 per ounce
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$800-2,500 per lb.
$100-200 per ounce
(of varying quality)
$3-20 per blunt
(depending on size)
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Other/
Comments
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Green Harvest, an eradication operation, may keep prices high, but does not eliminate use.
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Table 7 (cont'd.)
Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana
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City
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Minneapolis, MN
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Kansas City, MO
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New York, NY
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| Use
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Increase
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Stable at very high rate
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Stable
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Who's Using/
Change in Users
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Based on treatment admissions: 49.5% under 18 years; 77% male, 23% female; 71% Caucasian, 16% African-American, 5% Hispanic, 4% Native American; continued increase in prevalence among youth.
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All ages, ethnicities, both genders
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All groups
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Drugs in Combination
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Alcohol
Dipped in formaldehyde or embalming fluid or PCP ("AMP")
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Alcohol
Crack
Laced with PCP and formaldehyde
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Who's Selling
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Variable
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Variable-readily available in many areas
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Price/Purity
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$3-5 per joint
$5-10 per bag
$50 per 3 ounce
$150-300 per ounce
$900-1500 per lb.
$2500-3000 per kg.
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Other/
Comments
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"Many school counselors report that youths see no harm in use of marijuana. We know that parents send mixed messages about it."
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Table 7 (cont'd.)
Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana
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City
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Austin, TX
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San Antonio, TX
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Seattle, WA
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| Use
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Increase
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Increased high level of use
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Stable with very slight increase
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Who's Using/
Change in Users
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Average age of those in treatment is 27 years
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Youth, in both high and low socioeconomic groups; Mexican-American and Caucasian; 50% male, 50% female
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Based on treatment admissions-
70% male, 30% female;
54% Caucasian, 27% African-American, 6% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 6% Native American
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Drugs in Combination
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Crack ("primos")
PCP ("Fry", "Amp", "Water-Water")
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Heroin
Cocaine
Inhalants
Mixed with pulverized Xanax in blunts
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Alcohol
Methamphetamine
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Who's Selling
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Youth selling for Mexican mafia, often gang-involved.; some also sell heroin and cocaine
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Mexican cartel; indoor growers
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Price/Purity
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Variable; Southern TX: $250-800 per lb.
Northern TX: $450-800 per lb. For Mexican, $700-3,000 per lb. For domestic
Price is declining.
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$5, 10, 20 bags; $65 per ounce; $450 per lb. Commercial on border; $500-600 per lb. sinsemilla on border
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$15-20 per gram sinsemilla, $40-50 per 1/8 ounce, $70-80 per 3 ounce, $200-8,000 per lb.
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Other/
Comments
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Increase in indoor grown marijuana from Canada.
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