The Futility of Pot Busts

Jacob Sullum | March 15, 2005

On Friday NORML published a 188-page report on U.S. marijuana arrests that includes national figures and state-by-state breakdowns. Among its findings:

* It costs state and local governments about $7.6 billion a year, $10,400 per arrest, to enforce their marijuana laws.

* Marijuana possession and sales arrests disproportionately affect blacks and the young.

* The 165-percent increase in marijuana arrests between 1991 and 2003, from 287,850 to 755,000, was not associated with an increase in marijuana's price or a reduction in marijuana use, availability, potency, treatment admissions, or emergency room mentions.

The states with the highest per capita marijuana arrests were Nebraska, Louisiana, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Illinois.