San Diego:
San Diego is known historically for
Methamphetamine. Although the title
"meth capital of the world," has been applied to various cities through the years, San Diego been granted that title far more than any other place. An excellent source that documents this is
No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth by Frank Owen devotes a whole chapter to this issue. If not meth capital of the world, he bestows on San Diego the title of meth capital of America. Reasons sited by Owen for San Diego's assession to the upper eschelons of amphetadom in this well researched book begins as far back as World War II when returning troops came back with a taste for amphetamines which were being freely issued to G.I.s during the war. Use of this drug was common among those vets that took jobs in San Diego's defense industry. The sharp decrease in meth prescribing in the 60s saw the development of some of the first clandestine meth labs in the united states in the hills sourounding SD. Operation crankase in the late 80s, the pervasiveness of the Hells Angels in the trade, and moving in of mexican drug trafficking organizations like the Amezcuas all served to further solidify San Diego's hold on the crown. What's also interesting is that apparently San Diego Naval Base housed an amphetamine factory to supply the war effort during the second world war. If its not the "meth capital of the world" the meth trade is entrenched enough to give places like Auckland, Perth, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, Prague, Capetown, Wasila, Honolulu, and anyplace between the Sierra Nevadas and the Mississippi a run for their money. Anyway, that shits everywhere. Here in San Diego there are all kind of other drugs as well because San Diego is a.) in California, b.) across the border from TJ with its pharmacies, cartels, tunnels across the border, and human traffic, C.) The border crossing @ TJ/San Ysidro is the busiest in the world, d.) San Diego is a port city, and e.)
San Diego is in California. This means that you can find all kinds of dope, dank, coke, and pharms including ketamine. Heroin was my main thing. A study was done a couple of years ago by like the DEA or another organization that found that although it didn't have the highest purity ( that honor went to places like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Newark NJ.) or the very cheapest, it had the highest I think purity/price ratio which indicates we were paying the least in terms of absolute heroin content of any major city in the USA.
San Jose, CA
My hometown had the dubious honor of earning the title of "PCP Capital of the World," in the 70s and especially 80s. LA and DC also shared the title in the media. What is unique is that PCP use cut across socioeconomic lines in San Jose during the 80s, spreading beyond gangster and ghetto subcultures. While it was called Sherms in Southern California in San Jose it was called KJ (mostly by white users), blast (mostly by black users), and lenios or lenos with an ~ over the n (among hispanic enthusiasts.) The silicon valley is not the name of an actual city but the nickname of an area primarily comprising San Jose and its suburbs. Maybe its because of all widespread KJ smoking that someone came up with the word cyberspace. There is a dirth of info on this topic but to this day you hear of a phencyclidine lab bust from time to time in the area (although the greater Compton area apearently, is were most of this is produced these days. See
http://books.google.com/books?id=Xv...e+pHENCYCLIDINE+capital+of+the+world#PPA66,M1 ;(page 62 & 66) and
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/7567226 and
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/drugsofabuse/pcp.htm under "incidense of abuse" for a little more info. There you go- now its all saved for posterity.
Northern California
According to the DEA Northern California, for many years, was the home to upwards of 90% of domestic LSD production and although synthesis might have been delocalized , to a degree, Im sure the region still produces hella. In the 80s doses were $2-3 a hit and you could find sheets on the haight and in Santa Cruz for $30-$35. Also Northern California plays a huge role in cannabis culture with the area around Garberville in Humbolt county is of note in historical terms. In the 80s, alot of the USA's MDMA was being synthesized here. Now most of it is being cooked in the Netherlands, Belgium, and increasingly Canada. But it doesn't hurt that this is the home of Alexander Shulgin who lives in the east bay in I think Lafayette. The lab were all the magic happened is in his back yard.
San Francisco
According to the HBO documentary
Black Tar, San Francisco has the biggest heroin scene on the west coast followed by Seattle. Although in my experience the dope in San Diego is
way better than anything I use to get from the City (of San Francisco), (or EPA, or the flats in Santa Cruz, for that matter)...Dont know about Seattle.