2008 Marijuana Sourcebook 

MARIJUANA: THE GREATEST CAUSE OF 

ILLEGAL DRUG ABUSE 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Executive Office of the President 

Washington, DC 20503 

July 2008 

Table of Contents 

SECTION TITLE PAGE 

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1 

USE PATTERNS AND TRENDS ........................................................................................................... 2 

1. Marijuana is the Most Commonly Used Illicit Drug ......................................................................... 2 

2. Marijuana Use Rates Vary Across the Country............................................................................... 2 

3. Age Variability in Marijuana Use .................................................................................................. 3 

4. Marijuana Use Among Youth ....................................................................................................... 3 

5. Higher Rates of Perceived Harmfulness of Marijuana Are Associated with Lower Rates of Use........... 4 

6. Percentage of National Workforce Testing Positive for Marijuana is Declining................................... 4 

7. Initiation of Marijuana Use .......................................................................................................... 5 

HEALTH EFFECTS............................................................................................................................. 6 

8. A Major Consequence of Marijuana Use Is the Risk of Dependence or Abuse.................................. 6 

9. Growing Need for Marijuana Treatment....................................................................................... 6 

10. Youth Are in Treatment Primarily for Marijuana............................................................................ 7 

11. For Younger Users, Marijuana is More Addictive and More Dangerous............................................ 7 

12. The Burden on Emergency Departments Has been Increasing....................................................... 8 

13. Marijuana Use Is Associated with Mental Health Disorders............................................................ 8 

14. Marijuana Growers Present Environmental Hazards...................................................................... 9 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASPECTS............................................................................................................ 9 

15. Juvenile Delinquent Behavior Is Closely Associated with Marijuana Use........................................... 9 

16. Marijuana Accounts for Two Out of Five Arrests for Drug Violations ............................................. 10 

17. However, Marijuana Arrests Do Not Translate to a Large Share of Offenders in Prison.................... 10 

18. Substantial Proportions of Treatment Referrals for Marijuana, Methamphetamine, and Alcohol

Are from the Criminal Justice System ........................................................................................ 11

SUPPLY SITUATION ....................................................................................................................... 11 

19. What Marijuana Users Spend .................................................................................................... 11 

20. User Social Networks Are Essential Conduits for Obtaining Marijuana for Individual Use ................. 12 

21. Marijuana Potency Has Been Increasing ..................................................................................... 13 

22. Marijuana Seizures Along the Southwest Border Are Increasingly More Potent............................... 13 

23. The Southwest Border Is a Key Conduit of Marijuana Supply........................................................ 14 

24. Domestically Grown Marijuana Is a Major Source of Supply.......................................................... 15 

25. Mexico Is a Major Marijuana Producer........................................................................................ 16 

26. Canada Is a Consumer as Well as a Producer of Marijuana ......................................................... 17 

THE ‘MEDICAL MARIJUANA’ ISSUE .................................................................................................. 18 

27. Smoked Marijuana Is Not Medicine ............................................................................................ 18 

28. Compassionate Care for the Sick and Dying Or Another Front for Drug Trafficking?........................ 18 

29. Medical Marijuana States Are More Likely to Have Higher Marijuana Use and Initiation Rates.......... 19 

30. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in California: A Closer Look ........................................................ 20 

i 
ii 
INTRODUCTION 

This Chartbook recognizes marijuana as a 

major component of the illicit drug problem. 

Major progress has been achieved in reducing 

youth marijuana use; nevertheless, the overall 

demand for marijuana remains strong. 

The supply of cannabis is complex, involving 

domestic and foreign growers — both outdoor 

and indoor — as well as intricate networks 

that involve not only conventional drug 

traffickers, but also established social 

networks of friends and family. The potency 

of cannabis has risen dramatically in the past 

two decades, with concomitant abuse and 

dependence consequences reflected in 

increasing cannabis-related emergency and 

treatment events. 

Today, in addition to traditional methods of 

promoting and consuming the drug, 

marijuana is being marketed as candy to 

young people, the next generation of 

potential buyers. 

The data summary on these pages looks at 

marijuana use patterns and trends, health 

effects, criminal justice 

aspects, the supply 

network, and the issue of 

so-called medical 

marijuana. 

Photos: Drug Enforcement Administration. 1 
USE PATTERNS AND TRENDS 

1 Marijuana Is the Most Commonly Used Illicit Drug 

2 Marijuana Use Rates Vary Across the Country 

Page 2 
3 Age Variability in Marijuana Use 

4 Marijuana Use Among Youth 

3 
5 Higher Rates of Perceived Harmfulness of Marijuana Are Associated with Lower Rates of Use 

6 Percentage of National Workforce Testing Positive for Marijuana Is Declining 

Page 4 
7 Initiation of Marijuana Use 

5 
HEALTH EFFECTS 

8 A Major Consequence Marijuana Use Is the Risk of Dependence or Abuse 

9 Growing Need for Marijuana Treatment 

Page 6 
14

10 Youth Are in Treatment Primarily for Marijuana 

11 For Younger Users, Marijuana Is More Addictive and More Dangerous 

According to NSDUH, one in 

four 12– to 17-year-olds 

who report using marijuana 

in the past year display the 

characteristics of abuse or 

dependency. For younger 

users, the risk of marijuana 

abuse or dependency 

exceeds that for alcohol or 

tobacco. Recent research 

supports the “gateway” 

dimension of marijuana — 

that its use creates greater 

risk of abuse or dependency 

on other drugs, such as 

heroin and cocaine. 

Marijuana use itself is a 

serious risk, not only for 

addiction, but also is an 

added risk for developing 

psychosis, including 

schizophrenia. 

7 
12 The Burden on Emergency Departments Has Been Increasing 

Emergency department episodes involving marijuana almost tripled from 1994 to 2002. Marijuana steadily 

increased over that decade, surpassing heroin — which remained relatively flat — in 1998. 

13 Marijuana Use Is Associated with Mental Health Disorders 

Marijuana use is associated with depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. Besides the links to 

depression shown below, teens who smoke marijuana at least once a month are three times more likely to have 

suicidal thoughts than non-users. 

Page 8 
14 Marijuana Growers Present Environmental Hazards 

Photos: Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (2005). 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASPECTS 

15 Juvenile Delinquent Behavior Is Closely Associated With Marijuana Use 

9 
16 Marijuana Accounts for Two Out of Five Arrests for Drug Violations 

17 However, Marijuana Arrests Do Not Translate to a Large Share of Offenders in Prison 

Page 10 
18 Substantial Proportions of Treatment Referrals for Marijuana, Methamphetamine, 

and Alcohol Are from the Criminal Justice System 

SUPPLY SITUATION 

19 What Marijuana Users Spend 

11 
Page 12 20 User Social Network

s Are Essential Con

duits for Obtaining Marijuana for Individ

ual Use 
21 Marijuana Potency Has Been Increasing 

22 Marijuana Seizures Along the Southwest Border Are Increasingly More Potent 

13 
Page 14 23 The Southwest Border is a Key Conduit of Marijua

na Supply 
24 Domestically Grown Marijuana Is a Major Source of Supply 

15 
Page 16 25 Mexico Is a Major Marijua

na Producer 
26 Canada Is a Consumer as Well as a Producer of Marijuana

17 
THE ‘MEDICAL MARIJUANA’ ISSUE 

27 Smoked Marijuana Is Not Medicine 

In April 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an interagency advisory stating that it has not 

approved smoked marijuana for any medical condition or disease indication. FDA's drug approval process 

requires well-controlled clinical trials that provide the necessary scientific data upon which FDA makes its 

approval and labeling decisions, consistent with the standards of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. New 

drugs must be shown to be safe and effective for their intended use before being marketed in this country. 

Efforts that seek to bypass the FDA drug 

approval process might expose patients to 

unsafe and ineffective drug products. A 

growing number of states have passed 

voter referenda or legislative initiatives 

making smoked marijuana available for a 

variety of medical conditions upon a 

doctor's recommendation. These measures 

are deemed by FDA to be inconsistent 

with efforts to ensure that medications 

undergo the rigorous scientific scrutiny of 

the approval process. Accordingly, FDA, 

along with the Drug Enforcement 

Administration and the Office of National 

Drug Control Policy, do not support the 

use of smoked marijuana for medical 

purposes. 

28 Compassionate Care for the Sick and Dying Or Another Front for Drug Trafficking? 

Photos: Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (2008). 

Page 18 
29 Medical Marijuana States Are More Likely to Have Higher Marijuana Use and Initiation Rates

19 
Page 20 30 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in California: A Clo

ser Look 



Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Executive Office of the President 

Washington, DC 20503 

July 2008 

Marijuana 08-1 [07-29]