In 2022, over 227,000 arrests were made related to cannabis, as indicated by the figures from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and as highlighted by NORML.
A significant 92% of these arrests were merely for possessing cannabis.
This figure marks an uptick from the previous year, with the FBI documenting 219,489 cannabis-related arrests in 2021.
However, NORML suggests that these numbers could be on the conservative side since not all law enforcement units submit their figures to the FBI. In 2022, for instance, only 83% of the agencies shared their data, up from 63% in 2021.
Presently, 23 states in the U.S. have greenlit some form of recreational cannabis use, with 39 states having medicinal cannabis frameworks in place.
Soon, on November 7, a decision from Ohio voters on Issue 2 might potentially make Ohio the 24th state to permit adult-use cannabis.
Even with increasing acceptance at the state level, about 30% of all documented drug-related arrests in 2022 were linked to cannabis, as per FBI’s records.
NORML Deputy Director, Paul Armentano, remarked, “The long-term trend does show a decline in nationwide cannabis-related arrests. However, it’s concerning that comprehensive data is still lacking. With shifting perspectives on cannabis policies, it’s vital for governing bodies to offer clearer insights into the economic and social ramifications of cannabis restrictions. Even with the limited data, it’s evident that cannabis-related arrests form a major component of the U.S. drug enforcement approach. It’s alarming that countless Americans face arrests each year for cannabis offenses, especially when the general consensus is shifting against treating responsible adult cannabis use as a criminal act.”
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