November 2021 – The Midwest HIDTA Region
The Midwest HIDTA’s seven-state area consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the three Illinois counties of Madison, Rock Island, and St. Clair. The region spans over 428,000 square miles, encompasses 73 HIDTA-designated counties, and is considered the largest of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s 33 HIDTA regions. It is as varied as it is vast, and incorporates major urban cities, separated by suburban sprawl and rural bucolic settings. Within the Midwest HIDTA are more than 4,300 miles of interstate highways and an international border stretching over 300 miles. Its central location and intertwining roadways make the region ideal for drug trafficking organizations and criminal entrepreneurs intent on transporting drugs into or through to other destinations.
This is the second report on the impact of marijuana legalization in the Midwest. The purpose of this report is to measure the impact of marijuana legalization in both the Midwest and the United States. This report will utilize data and trends from states with operational medical and/or recreational marijuana programs in order to mitigate the future consequences of the marijuana programs of Midwestern states. California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington will frequently be cited and used for comparison, as their marijuana programs have existed long enough for an adequate amount of data to be collected. This data includes, but is not limited to:
