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Drug Situation: Marijuana, methamphetamine, diverted pharmaceutical drugs, and cocaine are the primary drug threats in the state of Kentucky. The eastern Kentucky region, especially the Daniel Boone National Forest, is a primary source of domestic grown marijuana. In 2006, 557,276 marijuana plants were eradicated in Kentucky, according to the Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program. Though Kentucky is the site of large-scale marijuana cultivation, most of the marijuana produced in the state is exported to metropolitan areas in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. Methamphetamine remains a serious threat throughout Kentucky. Though methamphetamine manufacturing activity in Kentucky has decreased, the supply of methamphetamine is supported by an increase in the distribution of ice methamphetamine by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Cocaine remains readily available in Kentucky. Limited competition in remote areas makes the small communities of eastern Kentucky popular and profitable for cocaine trafficking organizations from major metropolitan areas and the Southwest Border. Urban areas such as Lexington and Louisville are used as transshipment points for multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine en route from the southwest border to markets in Kentucky and the northeastern United States. Lastly, several counties in rural eastern Kentucky lead the nation in terms of grams of narcotic pain medications distributed on a per capita basis. Aside from marijuana cultivation and trafficking, the trafficking and illicit use of prescription drugs in the area is the most significant drug threat facing the residents of rural eastern Kentucky.

Cocaine: Cocaine HCl is readily available throughout Kentucky. The highest levels availability is in the urban areas. African American, Hispanic, and Colombian drug trafficking organizations are the primary urban traffickers. Caucasian and African-American traffickers are the primary traffickers in rural areas. Source areas for cocaine destined for Kentucky are the Southwest Border of the U.S., northern Georgia and Chicago. The price and purity of cocaine has remained relatively stable in Kentucky for the past several years. Gram quantities continue sell for $100-$150, ounce quantities for $700-$1,200, and kilograms for $16,000-$28,000. Cocaine purchased and seized in urban areas consistently tests in the 40 to 90 percent purity range.

Heroin: The presence of heroin in Kentucky is limited but sources indicate there is a low demand for small amounts in some areas of southeastern and northern Kentucky, as well as the Louisville area. When encountered, heroin has usually been found in user amounts, with the sources either Cincinnati or Detroit. However, recent enforcement operations have indicated that Mexican drug trafficking organizations are attempting to widen the heroin market in the state, particularly in the Louisville area. Recent seizures in the Louisville region have totaled over three pounds of Mexican heroin.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine continues to be available in Kentucky, especially in the rural areas of the state. Kentucky methamphetamine production has decreased significantly over the CY2004 – CY2006 timeframe. There are two reasons for the drop in clandestine laboratory activity. One is the increasing distribution and abuse of ice methamphetamine by Mexican/Mexican-American drug trafficking organizations. The ice is produced at super labs in Mexico and superior in quality to locally produced methamphetamine. Secondly, and likely the primary reason for the decrease production, is that during the 1Q of CY2005 the Kentucky Legislature passed and enacted legislation targeting the distribution of precursor chemicals, specifically over-the-counter products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. These laws made it more difficult for local methamphetamine producers to obtain these products by limiting purchase amounts, requiring identification, and creating a paper trail. Methamphetamine lab seizures in Kentucky decreased from 604 in CY2004 to 200 in CY2006 (as of 9-5-2006).

Pharmaceutical Diversion: The diversion of hydrocodone and oxycodone products Lortab, Lorcet, Vicodin® and Oxycontin continues to be a problem in Kentucky. Diverted pharmaceutical drugs are primarily distributed by Caucasian trafficking groups. Primary methods of diversion include pharmacy theft, “doctor shopping,” prescription fraud, and purchasing large quantities of drugs from unscrupulous Internet pharmacies.

The use of the Internet to illegitimately obtain prescription drugs affected southeastern Kentucky especially hard. Parcel delivery services had to add additional delivery trucks to established routes in the area to handle a significant increase in parcel volume. The increase in parcel volume was solely linked to an increase in parcels originating from out of state Internet pharmacy operations. Additionally, due to the C.O.D. nature of these deliveries, delivery drivers were increasingly carrying large amounts of cash and drugs in their vehicles. For the safety of their employees, parcel delivery services in southeastern Kentucky suspended door-to-door delivery service of packages from Internet pharmacies.

In 2005, the Kentucky Legislature passed and enacted legislation that required Internet pharmacies doing business in Kentucky to register with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy; adhere and abide by all rules, regulations, and policies of the Board; made it a felony for an individual to distribute drugs shipped to Kentucky unlicensed Internet pharmacies; and authorized law enforcement agencies to seized prescription drugs ordered from unlicensed, Internet pharmacies. The law significantly reduced the fraudulent purchasing of controlled substances from out-of-state Internet pharmacies by Kentucky citizens.

Club Drugs: LSD and Ecstasy are primarily used by teenagers and young adults in the cities with colleges and universities such as Lexington, Louisville, Richmond, and Morehead. The largest suppliers of MDMA (ecstasy) in the Lexington area are white, middle-class males, 25-35 YOA, who operate in a well-organized manner. They transport MDMA via U.S. Mail from Miami, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. They distribute MDMA to users in strip clubs, bars, rave parties, and other high school parties. Ketamine is distributed in nightclubs/bars. Steroids are obtained from mail order companies, doctors, veterinary supply companies and in gyms. GHB is obtained through the Internet, and from local manufacturers. Ecstasy, Ketamine, GHB, and LSD are readily available in the Lexington area.

Marijuana: Kentucky is a major source of domestically grown marijuana. In CY2005, Kentucky ranked 2nd in total domestic marijuana production. The Daniel Boone National Forest, covering more than 690,000 acres of eastern Kentucky, is a preferred site for cultivators. The forestlands are remote, sparsely populated, very accessible, and possess ideal soil and climate conditions for cannabis cultivation. Additionally, National Forest, timber practices clear previously forested areas, opening up numerous areas where sunlight can reach the forest floor. Marijuana plots in the National Forest are found in various locations from bottomlands, on hillsides and up to the tops of mountains, with the deforested areas the preferred spots for growers. Marijuana growers also perceive the rural areas of the National Forest as too spacious for law enforcement officials to detect their activities. Lastly, growers often plant their crops on public lands in an effort to protect themselves from personal and/or financial loss due to asset forfeiture procedures.

In CY2005, a total of 121,809 marijuana plants were eradicated from National Forest land in Kentucky. National Forest lands suffer from the collateral effects of marijuana cultivation, including property damage to natural resources, archeological sites, and wildlife, including endangered species. Marijuana producers have destroyed numerous trees, plants and fauna, as well as gates and fences, to clear cultivation sites and drive vehicles to and from the marijuana plots. The marijuana grown in Kentucky is vastly different from the marijuana abused in the past. In the 1970’s the THC content, or strength of the marijuana, fell in the 1-6% range. Mexican marijuana available in the Untied States averages 6% in THC content. Tests in CY2005 showed the average THC content of eradicated marijuana in Kentucky is 15%. Far more marijuana is cultivated in Kentucky than the local market can consume. Reporting indicates marijuana grown in Kentucky is transported to the Midwest (Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan) and the East Coast (North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, D.C.)

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Factsheet last updated: 6/2007