Over 600 Americans are arrested for marijuana every day – enough is enough

In America, 600 people are still arrested for marijuana every day.

At NORML, this is a stark reminder of why we do the work we do and how much more still needs to be done.

While nearly half of all states have taken steps to meaningfully legalize and regulate cannabis over the last decade, many jurisdictions continue to handcuff marijuana users. In Alabama, for example, nearly half of all drug arrests are for marijuana. In Georgia, 40 percent of those arrested on drug charges are charged with marijuana violations. In Texas, nearly a third of all drug-related arrests are for minor marijuana violations. In Pennsylvania, one in five drug arrests are for marijuana.

Police made over 220,000 marijuana-related arrests nationwide in 2023, according to the FBI's new Crime in the United States report. Most of those arrested were charged with simple possession. This is a huge waste of police resources that is ruining lives.

Behind each of these arrests is a person – a person with a family, a person with a story. At NORML we never forget this.

That's why we work so hard to ensure that responsible cannabis use shouldn't be a crime. One arrest for marijuana is one too many.

With your help, we will change things for the better. Marijuana arrests nationwide have fallen nearly 75 percent since their peak in 2007. And both major party presidential candidates have now acknowledged that it is time to stop arresting Americans for possession and use of cannabis, a substance that is safer than tobacco or alcohol.

NORML began its quest to change America's marijuana laws more than five decades ago. We are now closer to this goal than ever. But we need your help. Please donate today so we can continue to fight for legalization and end the practice of arresting, incarcerating, and discriminating against responsible cannabis users. Together we will legalize America.

Related