NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...

programs in the first half of 2004. The vast majority
were male (78 percent), and 30 percent were younger
than 21. More than one-half (56 percent) were Black,
about one-third (32 percent) were Hispanic, and 9 percent
were White. Alcohol was the secondary drug of
abuse for 38 percent of the marijuana admissions, and
almost two-thirds had some criminal justice status (64
percent).
Marijuana is the most abused illicit substance in New
York City. According to street contacts, marijuana continues
to be readily available. There are a variety of
forms of marijuana that are currently available in New
York City, including Purple Haze, Hydro, and Chocolate.
Of these, Purple Haze seems to be the most
popular or most readily available.
Street contacts also report that most of the marijuana
that is currently available in New York City is considered
“good” to “very good” in quality. The generally
good quality of the marijuana tends to attract out-oftown
buyers/users. A young Hispanic female from New
Jersey indicated that she and her friends regularly pool
some money together and come into the Washington
Heights area or nearby South Bronx to buy 5–8 $20
bags of marijuana.
Street-level marijuana is sold in $10 and $20 amounts,
although the $10 package seems to be on a decline.
Although individuals can buy multiple $20 packets, an
individual desiring larger quantities at a discount must
go through a house-connection, which requires an introduction
from a regular, “trusted” buyer.
According to the SSU, in the Bronx, an ounce of chocolate
marijuana sells for $250–$300. Purple Haze and
Hydro are slightly more expensive, selling for $325–
$400 per ounce. In Manhattan, Purple Haze and Hydro
are more expensive and sell for about $450–$480 an
ounce. A pound of Purple Haze or Hydro can cost
about $6,000.
The most commonly used packaging method for the
sale of marijuana in New York City is the plastic bag.
The thumbnail size sells for $10. There is also a slightly
larger size bag that sells for $20. Previous packaging
methods, such as the manila envelope, aluminum foil,
and glassine bags, are no longer commonly used because
customers are unable to see the product clearly
through the package. A recent marketing ploy involved
the use of colorful plastic rectangular boxes with covers
(size 2”x 1”x 0.75”). These boxes are called “coffins”
on the street. A coffin, which contains a mixture of
three types of marijuana—Hydro, Purple Haze, and
Chocolate—sells for $20.
EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE—New York City
Brand names are not typically used in the marketing of
marijuana on the street. Customers depend more on the
type of marijuana and the face-recognition, i.e., reputation,
of the seller.
The majority of marijuana sellers are adolescents and
young adults, typically between 16 and 30 years old.
The sellers tend to reflect the ethnic makeup of their
community. The majority of the street-level sellers tend
to be Black or Hispanic males. In more affluent communities,
however, the seller is usually White and
operates from his home rather than the street. Most of
the marijuana sellers are independent sellers. As a result
of police pressure, a number of former crack sellers
have switched to selling marijuana, which they perceive
as a safer activity.
Although the use of marijuana cuts across all social
groups, the drug seems to be most popular among adolescents
and young adults. According to street
observations, the majority of marijuana buyers are Hispanic
and Black. This drug, however, also has the
greatest number of White buyers, who are also utilizing
the same street-selling locations.
Based on field observations, researchers estimate that
the mean age of marijuana buyers is 23. Compared to
heroin, crack, or cocaine, marijuana users probably
have the highest proportion of high school and college
students. According to observations by field staff, the
majority of buyers are male, but researchers noted a
substantial number of lone female buyers. Based on
street interviews, the use of marijuana varies from the
occasional weekend-only user to the chronic user. A
22-year-old, working, Black female indicated that she
smokes one cigar loaded with marijuana a day, each
day of the week. She estimates that she spends about
$120–$140 a week on marijuana. A Hispanic male,
chronic smoker claims that he smokes about 10 times a
day, everyday of the week. This individual is able to
afford his habit because he deals marijuana. The marijuana
seller said, “most people would be surprised as to
how many people smoke marijuana and how often.”
Currently, the most popular method of smoking marijuana
involves the use of a blunt, a hollowed-out cigar,
or wrapping the marijuana in cigar leaves and smoking
the combined substance. One of the most popular cigars
is the vanilla-favored Dutch Master cigar. According to
field researchers, a number of marijuana smokers say
they prefer the Dutch Master because it is smoother and
burns more slowly than either the White Owl or Phillies
cigars. It seems the cigar industry is extremely involved
in the development of products directly catering
to and encouraging young marijuana smoking (for example,
grape-flavored cigars).
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005 171