The FBI reported 217,150 arrests for marijuana violations in 2023, down slightly from 227,108 in 2022, according to data published on the FBI's Crime Data Explorer.
Of those arrested in 2023, a staggering 84%, or just over 200,000, were charged with possession only, highlighting the continued emphasis on low-level cannabis offenses. It's important to note that FBI arrest data does not reflect the number of arrests, but rather the number of people arrested, since a person may be arrested multiple times in a single year.
The 2023 figures are based on reports from local agencies covering 90% of the U.S. population, so the actual number of marijuana arrests may be higher.
While this marks a long-term decline from a peak of 870,000 marijuana-related arrests in 2007, Paul Armentano, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), expressed concern.
“At a time when voters and elected officials across the country are reevaluating state and federal marijuana policy, it is inconceivable that government agencies cannot provide clearer data on the estimated costs and scope of marijuana prohibition in America.”
Armentano said.
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Marijuana possession dominates arrest rates
Despite state legalization efforts, marijuana-related prosecutions remain a major driving force in the U.S. War on Drugs.
Marijuana arrests are part of a larger trend in drug possession crimes, which ranks second in the U.S. arrest crime rate for 2023. Police recorded 3,801,505 cases of drug possession, second only to the “all other crimes” category.
Drug possession was followed by arrests for simple assault (3,584,195), DUI (2,863,542), and theft (2,372,550). The data follows trends seen in all other past reports.
Aggravated assault charges ranked further down the list, highlighting how minor drug offenses continue to dominate the U.S. criminal justice system.
Related article: Legal marijuana = less crime: FBI data shows surprising benefits of marijuana legalization
2023 FBI Data Summary
The FBI 2023 Domestic Crime Statistics details more than 14 million crimes reported by more than 16,000 law enforcement agencies.
The data aims to be representative of 94.3% of the U.S. population. One of the key accomplishments is a 3.0% decrease in domestic violent crime in 2023, with notable declines in murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. It also tracks a slight 0.6% decrease in hate crime incidents, showing progress in multiple areas of law enforcement, even as marijuana arrests continue to contribute significantly to the numbers.
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Cover: FBI Media Website
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