The Facts

  1. Police in the U.S. make a marijuana arrest every 37 seconds.
  2. Police made over 8 million marijuana arrests total nationwide between 2001 and 2010.
  3. 88% of all marijuana arrests are for marijuana possession.
  4. States spent an estimated $496 million incarcerating people for marijuana possession in 2010.
  5. States spent an estimated $1.4 billion adjudicating marijuana possession cases in 2010.
  6. States spent over an estimated $3.6 billion enforcing marijuana laws in 2010.
  7. States spent over $1.7 billion on police enforcement of marijuana laws in 2010.
  8. In 2010, police made 889,133 marijuana arrests – 300,000 more arrests than they made for all violent crimes.
  9. Between 2002 and 2011, the government spent billions enforcing marijuana laws. In that time, marijuana use increased from 6.2% to 7%.
  10. 9 out of 10 U.S. adults believe people who possess or use small amounts of marijuana should not face jail time.
  11. 52% of Americans support legalizing marijuana.
  12. Since legalizing marijuana in 2012, Washington State projects it will raise more than $500 million in marijuana-related revenues annually.
  13. More than 42% of all Americans report having tried marijuana in their lifetime.
  14. The world's largest jailer, the U.S. has only 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the world’s prison population.
  15. Black people and white people use marijuana at similar rates, but Blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.
  16. In New York and Texas in 2010, 97% of all marijuana arrests were for possession.
  17. 62% of all marijuana arrests in 2010 were of people 24 years old or younger.
  18. Between 1995 and 2010, police increased the number of marijuana arrests they made nationwide by 51%.
  19. 52% of all drug arrests in 2010 were for marijuana.
  20. If current trends continue, the government will spend almost $20 billion enforcing marijuana laws in the next five years.