While cannabis is now legal in almost half the country, thousands are still arrested in other parts of the United States simply for carrying weed. In 2024, more than 20% of drug arrests were for cannabis possession, according to NORML’s analysis of FBI Crime Data Explorer figures.
To put that into perspective, last year saw 204,036 cannabis-related arrests. However, most of those arrests weren’t for trafficking, but for personal use or simple possession:
- 187,792 possession cases (92%)
- 16,244 sale or production cases (only 8%)
This breakdown shows that while personal use remains the main reason for arrest, punitive policies still hit hardest the people caught with small amounts for personal use, not large-scale traffickers.
Evolution: From Peak to (Partial) Decline
The grim peak of 2007 is long gone, a record year in which more than 870,000 cannabis arrests were recorded, representing 48% of all drug arrests in the US. In 2018, the percentage was 40%. Today, that number hovers between 20 and 22%, marking a sharp drop — but still an alarming figure for a substance now legal in many states.
Here’s a breakdown by year:
- 2005: Remains near the peak of historical arrests.
- 2007: 870,000 marijuana arrests; 48% of total drug arrests.
- 2018: 40% of drug arrests were cannabis-related.
- 2022: 227,108 weed arrests; 92% for possession.
- 2023: 23% of all drug arrests were for cannabis.
- 2024: 204,036 total arrests; 187,792 for possession (over 22%).
Looking at the data by decade, between 1990 and 1999 there were 5,132,304 arrests, between 2000 and 2009 there were 7,877,165, and in 2010 and 2019 another 6,921,146. In the 2020-2024 five-year period, that number drops to 1,217,933 cannabis-related arrests.
Although the numbers show a clear decline, “hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to be arrested annually for low-level cannabis-related violations even though a majority of voters no longer believe that the responsible use of marijuana by adults should be a crime,” said Paul Armentano, Deputy Director at NORML.
Every state, a different story
The landscape varies widely from state to state. Remember, more than half of the states have legalized medical cannabis, and 24 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have legalized its adult use.
In those jurisdictions where pot has been legalized for personal use, possession arrests represent less than 3% of all drug-related arrests. However, in states where weed remains illegal, such as Iowa, Louisiana, and Nebraska, more than 50% of drug arrests are cannabis-related.
This green wave of legalization helped reduce arrests nationwide, but hasn’t erased them — the punitive system remains firmly in place.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Although there is a clear difference in arrests across states, there remains a stark disparity affecting communities of color and impoverished populations. People of color are arrested for cannabis possession at nearly four times the rate of white people, even though both groups use it at roughly the same rate.
In Memphis, for instance, a Department of Justice investigation found that POC adults are cited or arrested for marijuana possession 5.2 times more than whites. In Texas, between 2017 and 2019, African Americans accounted for 30.2% of all arrests for cannabis possession, even though they make up only 12.9% of the state’s population.
However, discrimination isn’t limited to the initial point of arrest: a simple arrest for minor possession can trigger lasting consequences. A criminal record can close doors to employment, education, housing, or even expose migrants to the risk of deportation. In other words, these are more than just statistics; we’re talking about lives impacted by a system that, though weakened, continues to hit hard.
Together, these numbers reveal a complex evolution in how cannabis is treated under US law: progress in legalization, but persistent injustice in enforcement. However, it’s clear that much remains to be done when it comes to reforming and reviewing the policies that still affect marijuana users, both in places where it is illegal and where it is not.
