In 2009, cocaine was found in 7 percent of failed drug tests of Wall Street employees, down from 16 percent in 2007. Marijuana was found in 80 percent of failed tests in 2009, compared to 64 percent in 2007. Amphetamines was found in 10 percent of failed tests, compared to 3 percent in 2007.

Source:  Kyle Stock, “Wall Street Drug Use: Employees Giving Up Cocaine for Pot and Pills,” Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2010.

According to the United Nations, 1.7 million people in Mexico consume 27.6 tons of cocaine each year. 3.9 tons of heroin is consumed within the country as well.

Up to 3 million people smoke marijuana in Mexico.

Officially, the Mexican Government reports that there are 428,000 drug addicts in the country.

Source:  Tim Johnson, “Rehab clinics turn into killing zones in Mexico’s drug war,” McClatchy, July 22, 2010.

In the United States, the retail price for medical marijuana sold legally is between $5,500 to $7,500 per pound.

Purchasing a pound on the wholesale market costs about $4,000.

However, if growing marijuana independently, the cost to grow a pound of marijuana is between $750 to $1,000.

Source:  David Segal, “When Capitalism Meets Cannabis,” New York Times, June 25, 2010.

An estimated $416 Million in illegal drugs was seized by police in the state of Hawaii in 2009.

Marijuana was the largest drug seized, with $311 Million worth of the plant was seized.

Source:  Jerry Burris, “Illegal Sex, Drugs and Gambling,” Hawaii Business, June 2010.

An estimated 110 tons of marijuana is trafficked into Israel each year.

Source:  Seth Freedman, “Israel’s weed shortage is a blessing,” Guardian, May 15, 2010.

5,900 tons of marijuana is produced each year in Paraguay.

Source:  Associated Press, “Brazil, Paraguay fight narcos with border security,” Google News, May 3, 2010.

40 tons of cocaine and up to 15 percent of the world’s marijuana supply travels through Paraguay each year.

Source:  Associated Press, “Brazil, Paraguay fight narcos with border security,” Google News, May 3, 2010.

In 2007, US authorities seized a total of 1 kilogram of cocaine and heroin on the US-Canada border.  In 2009, 18 kilograms of cocaine and 28 kilograms of heroin was seized.

In addition to heroin and cocaine, marijuana seizures increased. In 2007, 2,792 kilograms of marijuana was seized on the northern border. In 2009, 3,423 kilograms was seized.

Source:  Associated Press, “NY’s Schumer wants northern border drug plan; Ecstasy, marijuana, heroin increasingly found,” Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2010.

According to a poll by the Associated Press and CNBC, 55 percent of Americans were against the legalization of marijuana in April 2010, with 33 percent in favor of legalization.

54 percent of those under 30 were in favor of legalization.

When it came to medical marijuana however, 60 percent of all Americans supported the idea.

Source:  Associated Press, “AP-CNBC Poll: Most in US against legalizing pot,” Google News, April 20. 2010.

The Cuban Government reported that 86 packets of narcotics were washed upon the shores of its island in 2009.

The drug washed up to shore and found by authorities were 1,037 kilograms of marijuana, 2 kilograms of cocaine, and 31 kilograms of hashish.

Source: “2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy: Cuba,” United States Department of State, March 1, 2010.