Another New Record for Pot Arrests

Jacob Sullum | September 25, 2007

NORML reports, based on data released yesterday by the FBI, that marijuana arrests in  the U.S. continue to rise, with last year's total of nearly 830,000 breaking the previous record of 787,000 set in 2005. As usual, the vast majority of the marijuana arrests, which represented more than two-fifths of all drug arrests, were for simple possession, as opposed to sale or manufacture. Marijuana arrests have increased more than 150 percent since 1990, with most of the increase occurring during the Clinton administration.

Addendum: For those who are thinking "at least they're not going to prison," now's a good time to revisit Richard Glen Boire's report on collateral sanctions for marijuana offenders.

Comments

Episiarch|9.25.07 @ 3:31PM|#

I'd like to see some numbers on the amount of money collected in fines/court fees/other government bullshit from these arrests.

|9.25.07 @ 3:33PM|#

Funny, I don't FEEL any safer.

|9.25.07 @ 3:37PM|#

Question: does the term "marijuana arrest" mean people who are arrested strictly because they were found with marijuana on their person, or does it include people who were arrested for other things and had a simple possesion charge tacked on because some was found on them when they were searched?

|9.25.07 @ 3:37PM|#

This PROVES we're wing the WOD! It does, doesn't it?

|9.25.07 @ 3:39PM|#

One of the reasons I'm a Libertarian; back when I was a teenager, I wondered what kept the vast majority of D.C. Republicans and Democrats from honestly questioning current drug policy.

|9.25.07 @ 3:50PM|#

One of the reasons I'm a Libertarian; back when I was a teenager, I wondered what kept the vast majority of D.C. Republicans and Democrats from honestly questioning current drug policy.

Think of all the cops and bureaucrats we'd have to lay off if we stopped fighting the war on Drugs. Think of how many arms manufacturers and military contractors would be out of work! Won't someone think of the poor government leeches?

|9.25.07 @ 3:53PM|#

"I'd like to see some numbers on the amount of money collected in fines/court fees/other government bullshit from these arrests."

The real reason that we need all of those arrests is to justify all of the tax-base and consumer-base assets that are spent to support the bloated justice and law enforcement systems of government that strongly believes that marijuana should be and remain illegal. Many people, from corrections officers and mental health counselors to lawyers, judges, and clerical staff, are employed solely to deal with 'the pot problem'.

"Funny, I don't FEEL any safer."

For this kind of money
(see "War On Drugs Clock') we should definitely feel safer.

Ryo|9.25.07 @ 3:55PM|#

Dan T, I think it's the latter.

Top of this page says:
"The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program counts one arrest for each separate instance in which a person is arrested, cited, or summoned for an offense."

Fluffy|9.25.07 @ 3:59PM|#

Each of these people needs to send $20 to the Ron Paul campaign.

$5 or a carton of cigarettes if they're still in stir.

Stephen|9.25.07 @ 4:01PM|#

Hm. I think I'll meditate over this the next time I smoke my high-grade marijuana, which I bought for less than the cost of a comparable level of fucked-up-ness from alcohol.

Episiarch|9.25.07 @ 4:06PM|#

The real reason that we need all of those arrests is to justify all of the tax-base and consumer-base assets that are spent

Of course, but government likes to constantly increase fines for "unpopular" crimes like drugs or DUI, because they know there will be no outcry from the general public.

Take a state like NY. Getting nailed for a misdemeanor carries the fine, a court surcharge (often more than the fine itself!), and then in the case of moving violations like DUI (alcohol or drugs, doesn't matter), there are charges levied by the DMV, often more than the fine as well. We're talking about $1500-2000 for a first DUI. That shit adds up.

It is essentially another tax, a "you fucked up but we won't send you to prison" tax.

|9.25.07 @ 4:14PM|#

The previous record for pot arrests was "We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll"

|9.25.07 @ 4:15PM|#

excuse me, but 830,000 in 1 year! That's 1/10 the population of Switzerland!

Alice Bowie|9.25.07 @ 4:17PM|#

It's simply not just another tax.

The real problem is the CRIMINAL RECORD people get with a simple marijuana possession charge. This is referred to as the Four C's...Colateral Consequenses of a Criminal Conviction

With a misdemenor or violation:

- Higher life insurance and disability insurance premiums...or the possibility of being denied affordable insurance altogether

- Financial Aid for college will be denied for the 1st year after an offense

- The possible suspension of your driver's licence...even if u weren't driving

- Being denied employment in many places...Not just Investment Banks...Home Depot and GAP may not hire you

- etc, etc, etc

This should NOT go on anyone's record It's too too minor. Someone running a RED LIGHT or driving 30 miles over the speed limit is MUCH more dangerous...and there are no Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction.

|9.25.07 @ 4:17PM|#

Or in the US, 1 in every 361 people... in 1 year.

|9.25.07 @ 4:41PM|#

There has only been one violent incident in my life. I got mugged at gun point. It was for... wait for it... drugs. Has anyone been mugged for beer money in the past seventy five years? Mugged for cigarette money? No. There's a reason for that.

Yekke|9.25.07 @ 4:43PM|#

Pot smoker in 2007 USA = Jew in 1935 Germany.

9/11|9.25.07 @ 4:44PM|#

Don't let this distract you from the REAL enemy of freedom and liberty.

|9.25.07 @ 4:52PM|#

There has only been one violent incident in my life. I got mugged at gun point. It was for... wait for it... drugs. Has anyone been mugged for beer money in the past seventy five years? Mugged for cigarette money? No. There's a reason for that.

Beer and cigarettes aren't illegal, and are therefore more widely available and cheaper?

scandalrag|9.25.07 @ 4:53PM|#

9/11 leave Hello Kitty out of this. Oops I said too much.

Giuliani-2008|9.25.07 @ 5:07PM|#

830000? What kind of "broken window" policy is that? Before my heroics on 9/11 I cleaned up the city of New York by enforcing a zero tolerance policy on these quality of life offenses. Criminals used to smoke marijuana in the parks,on the streets, and on the stoops of their apartments.Well I just said NO, and look what happened...real estate values skyrocketed, we cleaned the last of the scum out of lower Manhattan, Disney came in and we cleaned up Times Square...
When I am President we will have at least 8300000 arrests a year. I intend to create a Federal "broken window" force to increase the quality of life all across America!

|9.25.07 @ 5:18PM|#

"Funny, I don't FEEL any safer."

And that's the real tragedy here. Like being having your personal belongings pawed through by civil servants at the airport. This does make many people FEEL safer. Though much like the TSA it's actually counter productive.

Bob Jourgenson|9.25.07 @ 5:26PM|#

This is a waste of money. We are running record deficits. Maybe during budget surpluses this is a good policy, but right now it is a luxury we just cannot afford.

|9.25.07 @ 5:28PM|#

There has only been one violent incident in my life. I got mugged at gun point. It was for... wait for it... drugs. Has anyone been mugged for beer money in the past seventy five years? Mugged for cigarette money? No. There's a reason for that.

Which is why drugs are illegal and cigarettes and beer are not, drugs cause violence. Drug laws protect you by keeping dangerous drugs, and the crime they cause off the street.

|9.25.07 @ 6:12PM|#

There has only been one violent incident in my life. I got mugged at gun point. It was for... wait for it... drugs. Has anyone been mugged for beer money in the past seventy five years? Mugged for cigarette money? No. There's a reason for that.

The Reason: The guy who robbed you wanted money to buy drugs.

If you want to follow that same logic:

I do drugs every day, and I have never robbed anyone. In fact, I am successful construction manager making 50k a year.

By your logic, all drug users make 50k a year.

I recommend you reread the Constitution and please point out the part that says the government may regulate your body for the public good.

If that's the solution, why not cut off everyone's legs and watch the crime rate drop!

|9.25.07 @ 6:21PM|#

Taktix, I think (?)you misread/misunderstood the post you are quoting. The point is the illegal nature of the drugs, created by our superiors, is the root cause of the illegal activity surrounding drugs. I think. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your post.

Howard|9.25.07 @ 6:31PM|#

Fluffy | September 25, 2007, 3:59pm | #

Each of these people needs to send $20 to the Ron Paul campaign.

$5 or a carton of cigarettes if they're still in stir.

Edward has been informed of your post and will be along shortly to shit all over this thread.

I hope you're happy.

|9.25.07 @ 6:37PM|#

bigbigslacker,

Sorry, sarcasm is not the easiest to detect via text.

I was operating under the assumption that the poster was genuine, but should have known better from BrandyBuck.

Dave B.|9.25.07 @ 9:58PM|#

Its not sarcasm, you just misunderstood the implied reason. The reason people steal for drug money being the illegality of drugs rather than the negative effects of drugs on the behavior of users.

|9.26.07 @ 9:16AM|#

Help me out. I've never been robbed at gun point, but do muggers generally tell you what they're going to spend your money on? Levitt and Dubner would have a field day with data like that.