FBI Report Over 200,000 People Were Arrested For Cannabis-Related Violations In 2023: How Is That Possible?
The FBI reported that 217,150 arrests for marijuana violations were made in 2023, slightly down from 2022 when the figure stood at 227,108, according to data published in the Bureau’s Crime Data Explorer.
Of those arrested in 2023, a staggering 84%—a bit over 200,000 people—were charged with possession alone, highlighting the ongoing focus on low-level cannabis offenses. It’s important to note that the FBI’s arrest data reflects the number of arrests, not the number of individuals arrested, as a person may be arrested multiple times in a year.
The 2023 figures are based on reports from local agencies covering 90 percent of the U.S. population, meaning the true number of marijuana arrests is likely higher.
While this represents a long-term decline from the peak of 870,000 marijuana-related arrests in 2007, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), …