crop. The UN Division of Narcotic Drugs strongly supported that conclusion.

In addition to exploring alternative herbicides to
eradicate illicit narcotic crops, we have also considered
other means, such as fire and biological mechanisms.
At this time, the only non-herbicidal method that merits
consideration is Fusarium Wilt, which employs biological
destruction with mold. We have referred this substance
to USDA and EPA for study and further guidance. Frankly,
however, I question whether Fusarium Wilt will prove
to be a safer means to eradicate marijuana.

Q2c. To what degree if any has the use of paraquat had on the volume of heroin and marijuana traffic from Mexico, Colombia and other producing countries?

A.

The use of paraquat by Mexicans to eradicate marijuana
has had no effect on the volume of heroin entering the
United States because the Mexican government uses the
herbicide 2,4-D to spray opium poppies.

The use of the herbicide paraquat on marijuana in Mexico
has affected the marijuana market in the United States.
We have seen three basic consequences to marijuana
production, trafficking and use patterns. First, the
amount of marijuana entering the US from Mexico has
dropped dramatically, as Mexican marijuana was destroyed
in the eradication program, and as the remaining marijuana
was perceived by US buyers to pose a potential health
risk. It was thought that the imported marijuana could
have been sprayed with paraquat and harvested before the
end of the approximately three-day "knockdown" period
when the paraquat would have taken effect.

Second, Colombia replaced Mexico as the primary foreign supplier of US consumed marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) estimates that close to 70 percent of the marijuana consumed in the US now comes from Colombia.

Third, the reduction in the availability of marijuana
from Mexico may have stimulated production of marijuana
crops in the United States.

DEA estimates of the sources of US consumed marijuana are contained in the chart below.

Large scale commercial production in the United States is limited to Hawaii and California.

Q3.

A.

In

Please explain your personal position on the decriminal-
ization of, or the legalization of, marijuana.
answering this question, please assume that bilateral
and multilateral treaties dealing with this drug are
not an issue.

My personal position is the position of the Carter Administration, as reflected in the documents provided in response to question no. 1.

Attachments:

Excerpt from "Federal Strategy for Drug Abuse and
Drug Traffic Prevention, 1979," pp 50-53

Excerpt from Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and
Control Hearings on "Decriminalization of Marijuana,"
March 1977, pp 4-83

From Secretary Califano, dtd August 2, 1979

FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR DRUG ABUSE AND DRUG TRAFFIC PREVENTION

1979

Prepared for the President by the Strategy Council on Drug Abuse Pursuant to

The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972

Federal

COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Treasury
The Secretary of Defense
The Attorney General
The Secretary of Health,

Education, and Welfare
Administrator of Veterans Affairs
The Director of the Office of

Management and Budget

Private

Milton F. Bryant, M.D., P.A.
Mr. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
Joyce H. Lowinson, M.D.
David F. Musto, M.D.
Mr. Donald D. Pomerleau
Harvey I. Sloane, M.D.

Preface

The 1979 Federal Strategy for Drug Abuse and Drug Traffic Prevention represents a comprehensive approach to the Nation's drug abuse problem and will serve as the foundation from which the Federal Government can proceed with renewed resolve to reduce the serious effects of drug abuse in this country. This Strategy, prepared by the Strategy Council on Drug Abuse, reflects the concerted views of: (1) the Departments and agencies involved in the Federal drug control and prevention effort; (2) the Strategy Council members from the private sector; (3) a number of public interest groups involved in this effort; and (4) key members of Congress who have shown dedicated support to the elimination of drug abuse. A sincere appreciation is extended to all of the individuals representing these offices, for without their expertise and professionalism this Strategy could not have been possible. An additional word of thanks is extended to the Drug Policy Office of the Domestic Policy Staff which provided the professional staff to the Strategy Council in developing this Strategy.

ment agencies of narcotics intelligence acquired abroad by U.S. foreign intelligence agencies.

Strategy 1979 supports these initiatives and supports the continued development and employment of a crop forecasting system to monitor international opium poppy cultivation. The crop forecasting system, when fully implemented, will provide more accurate information on the amount and sources of illegal opium available for the international market.

VII. Special Analyses

Marihuana, PCP and cocaine all present unique problems to policymakers and merit special attention. The Federal policy on the use and trafficking of marihuana has been subjected to such misinterpretation in recent years that there is a need for the Strategy to delineate clearly our position on marihuana. PCP, which is easily and cheaply manufactured, may well represent the drug abuse wave of the future. The marketing and use of such drugs pose special treatment and law enforcement problems. Finally, cocaine also may well be a serious concern in the future. At present it causes few severe health consequences in this country, but it easily could if use patterns and availability alter.

A. Marihuana

According to the latest survey data, 43 million Americans have tried marihuana, and 16 million are current users in that they used it in the month preceding the survey. This aggregate figure includes groups within which use is much higher. The 1977 national survey of high school seniors reports that 56 percent of high school seniors have tried marihuana or hashish, and 48 percent report having used in in the prior year. Thirty percent used it in the last month, and 26 percent report about weekly use. Daily use of marihuana is reported by 9.1 percent of the sample.*

The use of marihuana continues to increase across the United States. The trend of daily marihuana use among American high school seniors increased from 6 percent in 1975 to 9.1 percent in 1977 while the age of first use has decreased. Preliminary results from the 1978 survey report 11 percent daily use, i.e., in three years, daily use of marihuana has almost

*"Drug Use Among American High School Students 1975-1977," Lloyd D. Johnston, Jerald G. Bachman, and Patrick M. O'Malley University of Michigan, under a research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.