A report conducted by Jon Gettman, former head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, concluded that marijuana is America’s largest cash crop. The sticky green produces nearly $35 billion annually, a figure larger than corn and wheat combined. By comparison, America produces nearly $23.3 billion worth of corn annually, $17.6 billion worth of soybeans, $12.2 billion worth of hay, nearly $11.1 billion worth of vegetables, and $7.4 billion worth of wheat.

The report also concludes that five US states produce more than $1 billion worth of marijuana apiece. Those states are California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Washington. In fact, California accounts for nearly 40 percent of the nation’s production at $13.8 billion annually. Potheads, plan your vacation accordingly.

The figures were based on government reports estimating that the US produced over 10,000 metric tons of marijuana annually. Gettman then calculated the price per pound of herb at $1,606 based on survey data of retail prices between 2001 and 2005.

Gettman had previously waged an unsuccessful six-year legal battle to force the government to remove marijuana from a list of drugs deemed to have no medical value. He says the 10-fold increase in marijuana production from 1,000 metric tons in 1981 to 10,000 metric tons in 2006 was proof that the “war on drugs” was failing to curb marijuana cultivation and use. “The contribution of this market to the nation’s gross domestic product is overlooked in the debate over effective control. Like all profitable agricultural crops, marijuana adds resources and value to the economy,” Gettman said. “The focus of public policy should be how to effectively control this market through regulation and taxation in order to achieve immediate and realistic goals, such as reducing teenage access.”

Will the government ever legalize marijuana for tax and regulation purposes, or does their “war on drugs” already turn too large a profit to cut and run? What do you hippies think?

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[story via Flumesday]