Severity of Punishment Not a Factor

The most recent information on marijuana arrests verifies many facts that argue for a repeal of prohibition. A new report, Marijuana Arrests in the United States posted on The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform contains a wealth of significant data including state by state breakdowns.

The account tells us that from 1991 to 2009 the number of marijuana arrests doubled while the number of users has remained consistent. Also, punishment for infractions falls disproportionately on young people and African-Americans and most tellingly that strictness of the law has almost no effect on usage rates. In his executive summary author Jon Gettman points out that “there are wide disparities between states in both marijuana arrest rates and the severity of penalties. These differences bear little relationship to rates of use, while the penalty structure actually serves as a price support for the illicit market.”

Cross posted on The Trebach Report