›› Minnesota: Drug Climate

In Minnesota, Mexican traffickers control the transportation, distribution, and bulk sales of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and small amounts of black-tar heroin.

• Cocaine
  The majority of cocaine found in Minnesota is purchased from sources of supply in California, Chicago, and Detroit. The bulk of sales and distribution of cocaine is controlled by Mexican drug traffickers.
• Heroin
  Heroin distribution and use have not been significant problems in Minnesota, but recent reports indicate there has been an increase in heroin use, especially in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Heroin is distributed primarily by Hispanic and African-American street gangs.
• Meth
  Large quantities of meth produced by Mexican organizations based in California are transported into and distributed throughout Minnesota. Meth increasingly is being produced in small laboratories, capable of producing only a few ounces at a time. Meth-related emergency room mentions in Minneapolis-St. Paul reported by Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) increased from 112 in 1999 to 153 in 2000, an increase of 36 percent.
• Club Drugs
  Club drugs, including MDMA (Ecstasy), ketamine, GHB, GBL, Rohypnol, LSD, PCP, methamphetamine, nubain, and, to a lesser extent, psilocybin mushrooms, has been reported in Minnesota. Public awareness of the growing prevalence and dangers of club drug use has been heightened by several recent incidents: five deaths involving MDMA, the meth-related death of a teenager, several large law enforcement cases involving GBL, and a police-related incident involving a youth on LSD.
• Marijuana
  Marijuana remains the most commonly used and readily available drug in Minnesota according to public health officials. The bulk of marijuana in Minnesota is shipped in from Mexico. Hispanic street gangs are the major distributors of marijuana.