Marijuana Arrests Driving America’s So-Called ‘Drug War,’ Latest FBI Data Shows
-
September 19, 2011
Police made 853,838 arrests in 2010 for marijuana-related offenses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report, released today. The arrest total is among the highest ever reported by the agency and is nearly identical to the total number of cannabis-related arrests reported in 2009.According to the report, marijuana arrests now comprise more than one-half (52 percent) of all drug arrests in the United States. An estimated 46 percent of all drug arrests are for offenses related to marijuana possession.
“Today, as in past years, the so-called ‘drug war’ remains fueled by the arrests of minor marijuana possession offenders, a disproportionate percentage of whom are ethnic minorities,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a prepared statement. “It makes no sense to continue to waste law enforcements’ time and taxpayers’ dollars to arrest and prosecute Americans for their use of a substance that poses far fewer health risks than alcohol or tobacco.”
Of those charged with marijuana law violations, 750,591 (88 percent) were arrested for marijuana offenses involving possession only. The remaining 103,247 individuals were charged with “sale/manufacture,” a category that includes virtually all cultivation offenses.
By region, the percentage of marijuana arrests was highest in the Midwest (63.5 percent of all drug arrests) and southern regions (57 percent of all drug arrests) of the United States and lowest in the west, where pot prosecutions comprised only 39 percent of total drug arrests.
By contrast, the percentage of arrests for heroin and cocaine was lowest in the Midwest (14 percent of all arrests) and highest in the northeast (29 percent of all arrests).
Overall, law enforcement agents nationwide arrested 1,638,846 people last year for drug abuse violations, surpassing arrests for all other crimes.
Since 2000, law enforcement have reported making an estimated 7.9 million arrests for marijuana violations.
132 Responses to “Marijuana Arrests Driving America’s So-Called ‘Drug War,’ Latest FBI Data Shows”
Leave a Reply
” 7.9 million arrests “, that is people who will have to fight to now contribute to society.. wow that is horrible
This is entirely too much. There is no need for marijuana to be criminal in the first place. I wish we could get a few lobbyists in on legalizing ,arijuana for general or medical use. The FDA is just out to keep their damn pockets full.
Hey FBI…Quit screwin’ around with the petty stuff and concentrate on all the hard stuff like Cocaine,heroin & Meth…Just leave us Potheads out of your so-called Drug War jubilee!
7.9 million in 11 yrs……when will america rise up and say ENOUGH!! Take notes from syria, egypt etc….they cannot ignore a collective voice!
We the United Corporations of America,
In Order to take absolute control,
We will Control Justice,
force domestic Tranquility,
provide for the corporate defence and promote continuous Warfare,
and force the power of control apon ourselves and for only our Posterity,
We ordain and established this Constitution for the United Corporations of America.
reading this makes me so sad. thats so many lives ruined by not themselves, but government offcials. I thought cops goals were to protect and serve its citizens, not ruin their lives.
i was just arrested the other day for an ounce on ganja and its gonna cost me thousands of dollars to fight this, nice to spend that kind of money and still go to jail in this economy.
these are sickening stats and this has to change in my lifetime.
The midwest being the highest in arrests for marijuana does not surprise me @ all. The govt and citizens out here are so closed minded and hillbilly that I do not believe it will ever change. It doesn’t matter if the people here voice their opinions on medical legalization or lessining the penalties, it goes on the ballot and then never passed. Its ok out here to drink and get drunk get in your car and smash up some poor innocent family, however marijuana is the worse thing in the world. They still teach kids in school here that marijuana is a “gateway” drug. The posession penalties seem to increase where the population is smaller. Then u also have the problem of all the judges and cops know eachother so whether the bust is illegal or not, if u don’t have resources from a bigger city (lawyer) then u completely get prosecuted to the fullest. I have a friend right now who is in prison because there was 2 plants growing in his front yard. It wasn’t even weed it was hemp, some person saw it from the road and called the police. My friend lost his job/career with the railroad and will be a felon when he is released. Our politicians are corrupt and I think that the people of america really need to start excercising all this “freedom” we supposedly have as american citizens. People need to realize how corrupt our govt is and expose the truth until sumthing is done.
It would be interesting to know the numbers relating to alcohol. DUI and public intoxication are the only possible offenses that exist for alcohol, right?
Too bad there isn’t a number that measures how much fewer law enforcement resources were used towards investigating and pursuing actual crimes. Cops busting and processing cannabis users are cops not tracking down leads and investigating criminals that commit victimizing crimes like murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery and so on.
Are we safer when finite law enforcement resources are allocated this way?
Also another interesting number would be, how many total acts of misdemeanor and felony cannabis activity were there? It’s an unknowable number but it is certainly very large. Depending on how you counted it would be hundreds of million if not billions of cannabis acts were committed in 2010. Law Enforcement succeeds at interdicting or apprehending a tiny tiny percentage of them, which means cannabis law enforcement is extremely inefficient. I happen to know people who have used it for 30-40 years and have never been arrested. With that degree of inefficiency, what is the point?
How much unjustifiable futility is enough?
[Paul Armentano responds: According to the UCR, in 2010 there were an estimated 1.4 million arrests for DUI (though this figure would include both DUI alcohol and DUI drug arrests) and 561,000 arrests for ‘drunkenness.’
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl29.xls
Many drug companies thrives on the value of marijuana by keeping it illegal. That is where the addiction, abuse, and no medical value comes from. It’s them, the DEA and other drug enforcement agencies who are addictive and abusive, because of their dependence on the federal law to keep it illegal and on the schedule one list of the “Controlled Substance Act of 1970″.
Anti- cannabis politicians can lie better by just changing the concept of their lies to make it more suitable to their own conscience. Ask them to elaborate on their statements and watch them get upset when they felt they are being forced to reveal their true intentions. That is why they avoid the issue of marijuana reform.
When do we get to cuff there skumbag baby killers?
How can we let them know that arresting pot smokers is ridiculous? How can the government have such a choke hold on us? When will it end…
This is so depressing to hear. It’s been so long now that our own government has lied to and persecuted it’s own people for doing nothing wrong at all. PLEASE NORML… someone, lets put a stop to this horrific madness. Every year I end up with another good friend or family member on probation facing ridiculous charges that only make life harder than it already is. This has to stop. I’m losing hope here.
And isn’t it obvious that once you deduct what it costs to enforce cannabis prohibition from the incoming money from fines and asset forfeiture that it puts the government in the black?
Wait for the moment.
Wait, uh, no the government could be making more money if it legalized cannabis.
But what about the children?
Just switch to alcohol and be a drunk and you can drink around your kids and keep them.
Well I guess DEA head Leonhart is making good on her word. Obama is facing not being reelected in 2012. You would think he would try something a little different than the anti MJ stance. Maybe he thinks he doesn’t need our vote this around. Thats good cause he’s not getting it.
I ment to say “Maybe he thinks he doesn’t need our vote this TIME around” Sorry about that.
Guess it’s going to have to get to 1,000,000 a year before the politicians start to wonder.
As usual, the only harmful effect of marijuana stems from the user’s treatment by law enforcement.
It’s not illegal because it’s harmful to humans—it’s harmful to humans because it’s illegal!
We are witnessing the Nazification of America.
We need a state to legalize in 2012 and if you are in one of the states you need to help get it passed so the laws of this country changed. Aren’t you sick of how things are going in this so called democracy? You know what to do! The government manufactured fear must end!
It’s wrong to arrest people for marijuana possession. It wastes taxpayers money. It jails people for no harm to the public. It is an unjust law that never should have been passed in the first place. I recommend jury nulification. When they ask you as a potential juror if you favor changes in the marijuana laws YOU HAVE TO LIE! Yes you favor changes but if you admit it you will NOT be put on the jury. ….Then when you get on the jury vote NOT GUILTY. Marijuana users will never get a fair trial by a jury of their PEERS! Wake up…Lie to get on the jury …vote not guilty ….Normally, I would never tell anyone to lie but the prohibition of marijuana is based on lies. The scheduling of marijuana as a #1 is a lie. The incarceration of peaceful marijuana users as a criminal is a lie. Deadlock the juries….I have….one trial at a time!
I wonder how far the rabbit hole really goes? the feds are trying to distract attention off themselves. Big pharm are the real crimnals.
Any idea how much revenue theses arrests generate?
To all 3,141 Genesist Colonies in the United States.
Remember – These brethren are being felonized and cannot vote for legalization or against the laws prohibs make and enforce. What a pitiful group of human beings there are in Washington. Scum of the earth – a disgrace
to the human race. To those representatives who have the courage to stand up against these mindless stone heads – we praise you and support you with everything we have or can get.
Kind of reminds you of Germany, say in the early 1940′s, doesn’t it!
Multiple these numbers by the next 20 years….. and you nearly eliminate 30 million voters. Think about!
The news has been all about our country’s recession. Every piece I see, this one included, always leaves me with the same answer coming to mind. Stop wasting money criminalizing something that a majority of Americans oppose criminalizing, and rebuild the hemp industry. It’s where American ingenuity can blossom, and will create thousands of jobs.
[...] [...]
No wonder legalization is not in Kerli’s vocabulary,,he can’t afford for it to be.
[...] to arrest our way to victory Police made 853,838 arrests in 2010 for marijuana-related offenses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual [...]
“According to the UCR, in 2010 there were an estimated 1.4 million arrests for DUI (though this figure would include both DUI alcohol and DUI drug arrests) and 561,000 arrests for ‘drunkenness.’”
If the number of estimated users is compared to the number of misuse arrests, I going to guess that alcohol has a higher ratio, a much higher ratio, as compared to cannabis. I’m pretty sure there are zero arrests for public “stonedness”. Cannabis DUI is pretty rare and hard to demonstrate as a genuine threat to public safety such that cannabis should be totally illegal while alcohol is legal.
Essentially their numbers paint a picture that is America today but is totally un-American in nature. They might choose to see a higher arrest number for pot as alarming. I see it as demonstrating even greater futility and lacking necessity and justification. Once one dismisses the false equivalency of the cannabis “high” with alcohol intoxication, what justification for this remains?
REALLY!? That’s such a drastic deviation from the norm. 97.5 arrests per hour. So pretty much, every 40 seconds or so someone gets arrested for possessing Cannabis. This just shows that while we are making progress, that progress is not a sign to slow down or take it easy. Fight harder, people! We WILL win.
On that note, is there any statistic out there that shows exactly how much money has been spent to arrest, prosecute and sentence all Cannabis possession charges throughout the country?
please, vote
All this fuss over a common, non-toxic herb that can be easily grown in the garden. The persistence of marijuana prohibition is truly one of the most egregious examples of political stupidity in human history.
Wow, what would law enforcement do if they were not arresting all the dangerous pot smokers? I feel so much safer that these crazy stoners are put away. There are so many marijuana realated deaths each year, this is great news. NOT!!!! What a bunch of crapola. Money, money, money……………………That is all that is about. The Government can KMA.
[...] Source: click here. [...]
Can u say revenue generator, job security for law enforcement we are being had ladies and gents WAKE UP. !!
Uncle Sam is never going to say “Uncle” on the drug war,because when politicians get elected they must take an oath to never give in on the Drug war.Without the Drug war they lose their feeling of Superiority over all of us, millions of us.They get a power thrill from these abuses of power.They take the most common denominator and make it illegal and then they have the most control over the masses.They will see everyone of us, jobless, homeless, incarcerated, dead before they ever get over their abuse of power.It’s a sad day in America that it’s come to this, just because of some self-rightous zealots with an agenda to destroy the Country while enriching themselves at the expense of the ordinary law abiding citizen. Such a shame, too bad they can’t admit what a mistake they’ve made up to this point.They all know how crooked they are and have been, and they still won’t budge,that’s one sick government, our government.
hi i was in a car accident that left me with my right arm paralyzed and alot of pain as a result. I medicate with cannibas for pain and nerve recovery. While relaxing one evening having an exquisite italian dinner with my girlfreind a special investigations unit kicked in my door raiding my home with guns dog and all leading to the seizure of 5 grams, a bowl, three sandwhich bags and a gram scale. they took me to jail and charged me with felonious intent to disribute. this is the second time im facing a felony my first was for a seven inch plant with two leaves on it that a lanlord found in my closet while searching through my personal space when i wasnt home. So if its hard enough explaining to an employer the hand just imagine the felonies on top of that. Cannibas is the only safe way to medicate my condition and the goverment has turned my life upsidedown for using it. There is no more excuses at this point please legalize this stuff now.
Elvy Musikka has said that cannabis users are the most discriminated group in America I would like to add to that comment “cannabis users are the most prosecuted and persecuted as well.”
Ray DiPasquale
[...] 19 ???????? 2011, ??? ?????????, ??????????? ????????? NORML [...]
We’re not much different than you in America . The politicians & Corporations in our Country are killing its own people . They kill Children & deny our freedom .We stand up for our rights & freedom and are thrown in Prison . It’s all the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lsvHMkWFg&feature=related
So you say…….ha,ha killing Children ? By denying a proven medicine to us Americans – yes, that kills Children and people in all walks of life .
Marc Emery spoke out in what he believed in .
The result = 5 years in Prison .
Congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee states in his letter to Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske that, “There is no evidence that marijuana has the same addictive qualities or damaging consequences as these harder drugs and it should not be treated as such.” He goes on to explain how drug convictions for non-violent possession “crimes” have high costs – almost $7.6 billion per year is estimated to be spent on marijuana arrests and prosecutions. He also states that the damage to ruining someone’s life with an unnecessary conviction is an unreasonable cost to our society, dooming these people to “second-class citizenship”. He mentions the “disastrous racial disparities” in the criminal justice system, reporting that African-Americans and Latinos are much more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites.
Congressman Cohen also addresses states’ rights to make their own medical marijuana laws, stating, “We should not deny the thousands of Americans who rely on the benefits that marijuana provides. I strongly recommend that this administration allow states that have chosen to legalize medical marijuana to enact strong regulations without fear of prosecution. [W]e should not interfere with the will of the people to enact these compassionate laws.” http://bit.ly/q9kZ3w
[...] Marijuana Arrests Driving America’s So-Called ‘Drug War,’ Latest FBI Data Shows | … Quote: [...]
Pharmacies substantially profit by the sales of pharmaceuticals . The Companies that sell these drugs ( many of these drugs will kill you and cause irreversible damage to the human body ) profits are in the TRILLIONS of dollars but if you sell Marijuana you will be
jailed . However, make a profit from Marijuana sales and you will be shut
down, jailed and be called a
” public nuisance ”
.
When a state Court of Appeals decision came down Aug. 23 prohibiting “patient-to-patient sales” of medical marijuana, a growing network of medical marijuana dispensaries were suddenly thrown into a state of limbo.
The court determined that defendants Brandon McQueen and Matthew Taylor, owners of Mt. Pleasant-based Compassionate Apothecary, were not acting within the boundaries of the 2008 Michigan Medical Marihuana Act by allowing sales of medical marijuana and retaining up to 20 percent in profit.
The appellate court opinion overturned an Isabella County Circuit Court decision and determined the defendants in fact were in violation of the Public Health Code and could be shut down as a public nuisance .
Says @ every meeting shout it out Ron Paul President
GOD BLESS AMERICA
I sent a letter to Senator Cliff Stearns, for the umpteenth time, and this is his response… as normal.
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 2306, Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011. I always appreciate hearing from constituents, and greatly benefit from knowing your views.
As you may be aware, H.R. 2306 was introduced by Barney Frank (D-MA) on June 23, 2011 and was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Judiciary Committee. You raise some important points about limited resources and appropriate reach of federal government. However, I vote against marijuana bills for a few reasons. First, the active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) is available in prescription pills known as Marinol® (dronabinol). It is indicated for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS, and for nausea and vomiting accompanied by cancer chemotherapy. Moreover, I find efforts to legalize recreational drugs counterproductive. The many hazards related to illegal drug use have been documented and shown to have a severe negative impact on society, from crime to decreased productivity.
Again, thank you for contacting me. If I can be of any further assistance on this or another federal matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. For your convenience, you may receive further information from me on issues important to the 6th District at http://www.house.gov/stearns. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
I have sent him a reply, and it reads as follows…
It seems completely clear to me that you refuse to acknowledge the fact that we are speaking about marijuana, not cocaine, heroin, morphine, or any barbiturates. These should not be prescribed, they are proven to be addictive and abused regularly. Marijuana has been touted as being devoid of any medical benefits, yet you admit that there is benefits associated with the active compounds in marijuana. I am 32 years old, a high school graduate and a part time college student, and i have smoked marijuana for 17 years. If what you say is remotely true than my life is either an exception, or an enigma. You sir will one day realize how much your lies are hurting everyday average Americans. I find it reprehensible, and a travesty. I have sent you numerous letters, only to receive the exact same answers. Pitiful. I wonder…. If I was a million dollar contributor to your campaign, would you blow me off like this? Doubtful… so I guess it’s good for you that I am impoverished. For the record, Florida is contemplating affirmative defense for possession with a doctors recommendation. Obviously your constituents don’t feel as strongly as you do against the benefits of medical marijuana. If everyone that felt like I did actually stood up to elected officials, we would impeach all of you per the US Constitution. Overthrow our oppressors, elect new. Elections are coming up, and believe this, everyone willing to take two seconds to read your drivel will not forget how to vote this year. Thank You, PJS
P.S. Workforce offices have classes to learn how to build an impressive resume…. maybe you should attend one. It’s free too.
[...] NORML.org Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on fark Buzz it up Share on [...]
Ya, well theU.S. can’t have peace loving people walking the streets. The cops don’t have any other thing to do. Let the drunks drive and let the murders and wife betters and vis-versa go. That NOT the way I, like the hard earned tax dollar to work. Legilze pot. There’s money to be made and jobs by legalizing pot.