The Number of marijuana related arrests dropped slightly in 1998 to 682,885, from 1997’s record high of 695,200, according to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report released on Sunday. Eighty-eight percent of those arrests were for possession.
Forty-four percent of all drug arrests nationwide were for marijuana, and one out of every 25 criminal arrests in the U.S. were for marijuana possession.
“The war on drugs is increasingly focused on seeking out and prosecuting otherwise law-abiding citizens who smoke marijuana,” said Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director. “It represents a gross misapplication of law enforcement resources that should be spent on serious and violent crime.”
There were 6,985 more arrests for marijuana offenses last year than for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Last year was the first drop in marijuana arrests since President Clinton took office. Marijuana arrests have risen 80 percent during the Clinton presidency, from a low of 380,399 in 1993. A total of 3,470,545 Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges during the Clinton administration.
For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director at (202) 483-5500. To view the Uniform Crime Report go to http://www.fbi.gov/.
