Mexico, Paraguay Named Top Pot Growers

Brazil, Argentina say use is rising as supply grows
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 26, 2008 8:16 AM CST
Mexico, Paraguay Named Top Pot Growers
A protester blows marijuana smoke against the face of a police officer during a march to mark the 1968 Tlatelolco plaza 'massacre' in Mexico City, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

Mexico holds the distinction of being the world's biggest marijuana producer—no big surprise there. But little landlocked Paraguay is turning heads after hitting No. 2 on the UN's list of top pot-growing countries, CNN reports. Paraguayan officials aren't surprised: Raids are difficult to orchestrate, marijuana fetches 500% the selling price of a traditional crop, and great soil means everything grows like, well, weeds.

Neighboring countries like Brazil and Argentina are reporting spikes in marijuana use, and pointing the finger at the 5,900 metric tons of pot Paraguay produced in 2006. Mexico took the worldwide lead with 7,400 tons, with the US trailing at 4,700. Nearly every African country had some production, but together North and South America accounted for more than half the 41,400-ton total.
(More marijuana stories.)

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