Marijuana Production in the United States (2006) – Comparison with other Cash Crops

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At an estimated $35.8 billion marijuana is by far the largest cash crop in the United States when compared to the average production values of other crops from 2003 to 2005. (Production values for other crops were obtained from the Department of Agriculture. [22])

Table 7. Top Cash Crops in the United States (Average Value 2003 – 2005)

Average
Rank
Crop
Production
Value ($1000s)
1
Marijuana
$35,803,591
2
Corn
$23,299,601
3
Soybeans
$17,312,200
4
Hay
$12,236,638
5
Vegetables
$11,080,733
6
Wheat
$7,450,907
7
Cotton
$5,314,870
8
Grapes
$2,876,547
9
Apples
$1,787,532
10
Rice
$1,706,665
11
Oranges
$1,583,009
12
Tobacco
$1,466,633
13
Sugarbeets
$1,158,078
14
Sugarcane
$942,176
15
Sorghum
$840,923
16
Cottonseed
$821,655
17
Peanuts
$819,617
18
Barley
$653,095
19
Peaches
$474,745
20
Beans
$467,236

Based on a comparison with average production values of other crops from 2003 to 2005 marijuana is the top cash crop in 12 states, one of the top 3 cash crops in 30 states, and one of the top 5 cash crops in 39 states. [23] Marijuana is the largest cash crop in Alaska, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. (See Table 8 below.)

Domestic marijuana production often takes place in marginal areas not usually associated with agricultural production. In addition to indoor cultivation in trailers, closets, basements, and attics marijuana is grown outdoors along fence lines, in forests, on other public lands, in undeveloped rural countryside areas, and on other parts of private land generally inaccessible and unseen by the public.

Table 8. Thirty States Where Marijuana is One of the Top Three Cash Crops
Average Values 2003 – 2005; Production Values ($1000s)

 

Alaska
New Hampshire
Marijuana
$129,223
Hay
$16,163
Hay
$6,820
Marijuana
$10,349
Apples
$6,637
Alabama
New Mexico
Marijuana
$569,409
Hay
$173,963
Cottonp
$198,393
Vegetables
$98,525
Hay
$120,262
Marijuana
$41,226
Arizona
Nevada
Vegetables
$778,779
Hay
$161,868
Marijuana
$274,590
Marijuana
$49,172
Hay
$229,245
Vegetables
$34,817
California
New York
Marijuana
$13,848,267
Hay
$341,845
Vegetables
$5,668,637
Marijuana
$329,565
Grapes
$2,607,181
Vegetables
$311,832
Connecticut
Ohio
Marijuana
$32,179
Soybeans
$1,165,908
Hay
$20,517
Corn
$1,004,106
Tobacco All
$11,270
Marijuana
$457,316
Florida
Oklahoma
Vegetables
$1,289,360
Wheat
$522,918
All Oranges
$1,046,646
Hay
$334,511
Marijuana
$593,802
Marijuana
$73,021
Georgia
Oregon
Cotton
$498,574
Marijuana
$473,972
Marijuana
$438,858
Hay
$346,751
Vegetables
$421,748
Wheat
$195,018
Hawaii
Rhode Island
Marijuana
$3,819,383
Hay
$3,101
Sugarcane
$64,953
Vegetables
$2,902
Macadamia
$40,125
Marijuana
$2,481
Illinois
South Carolina
Corn
$4,062,034
Marijuana
$142,434
Soybeans
$2,728,190
Tobacco
$97,136
Marijuana
$272,586
Cotton
$92,256
Indiana
Tennessee
Corn
$1,813,064
Marijuana
$4,787,250
Soybeans
$1,541,358
Soybeans
$277,861
Marijuana
$312,058
Hay
$252,365
Kentucky
Utah
Marijuana
$4,474,952
Hay
$220,251
Hay
$421,036
Marijuana
$29,020
Tobacco
$410,551
Wheat
$23,630
Massachusetts
Virginia
Cranberries
$51,016
Hay
$304,825
Hay
$26,470
Marijuana
$191,822
Marijuana
$20,396
Soybeans
$106,684
Maine
Vermont
Marijuana
$122,824
Hay
$49,294
Hay
$32,726
Marijuana
$29,009
Apples
$12,285
Apples
$9,832
Michigan
Washington
Corn
$537,908
Apples
$1,145,133
Soybeans
$420,201
Marijuana
$1,030,015
Marijuana
$324,830
Wheat
$507,220
North Carolina
West Virginia
Marijuana
$672,253
Marijuana
$494,328
Tobacco
$539,872
Hay
$63,905
Cotton
$306,317
Corn
$7,636