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)