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.