marijuana arrest rate
Washington DC: Marijuana Arrests Plummet Over 90% – Embracing the New Normal
In what now seems like a dark and distant reality, 2,346 people were arrested for simple marijuana possession in Washington D.C. during the 2011 calendar year. But once voters in the District of Columbia sank their teeth into initiative 71, passing it decisively, marijuana legalization/decriminalization became the new norm in our nation’s capital. Ultimately reducing the total number of marijuana related arrests to seven, as of November 6, 2015.
Yep, there’s little doubt this has been an elevated year for the marijuana reform movement, a year whose influence could alter the direction of this country’s marijuana policy for future generations.
California, which first legalized recreational marijuana in 1996, has cultivated strong public support for their 2016 ballot initiative, and looks forward to that critical day in November when they can cast their ballot for full legalization. Would-be Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders planted the seed of true reform via a piece of landmark legislation, hoping to finally snuff out the feds prohibition on marijuana. This action, many believe, compelled Hillary Clinton to reevaluate her fluctuating position on marijuana reform. Mexico’s Supreme Court recently sided with personal liberty and private medical marijuana use; a ruling many believe will end in legalized recreational marijuana south of the border (move over Canada). And last but not least – constituents in Ohio contemplated – and spurned – an ill-conceived and monopolistic initiative that would have handed over Ohio’s recreational marijuana market to the likes of Nick Lachey.
As the remaining states grapple with the new norm, Washington DC’s dramatic decline in smalltime marijuana related arrests demonstrates the socioeconomic value of marijuana legalization. Rather than wasting millions of dollars sending people to jail and ruining lives for getting high, the voting populace in our nation’s capital opted to preserve and protect future generations from having lives trashed and opportunities withheld.
Washington DC Marijuana Arrests By The Numbers:
2010: 2161
2011: 2346
2012: 1553
2013: 1215
2014: 895
2015: 7 (as of Nov. 6)
If we were to extrapolate the dramatic decline in our nation’s capital for marijuana related arrests, one can only imagine the lives saved, intellectual property protected, tax dollars safeguarded, and revenue earned from coast-to-coast.
Marijuana Arrests Decline 40 Percent in The Big Apple
According to a new report, those smoking weed in NYC can breathe a little easier knowing the likelihood of their getting arrested for lighting up in certain areas of New York City has been significantly reduced.
Thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio, marijuana arrests in the Big Apple have declined dramatically on a year-over-year basis. Dropping nearly 40 percent from 2014’s reported incarceration numbers.
Per the New York Post, as of October 20, 2015, a reported 18,000 + pot smokers in NYC had been incarcerated over the peaceful plant; while still a big number, that figure represents a steep decline from 2014’s 29,000 + marijuana related arrests.
Unfortunately, while incarceration has declined dramatically in some areas of the city, there seems to be a lack of equity in de Blasio’s enforcement plan – seemingly based on an individual’s race, class and geographical location.
During 2014 de Blasio informed the NYC police force they were to only issue tickets to those individuals busted with less than 25 grams of pot, rather than incarcerating them. This long-overdue modification was the end result of public pressure being applied to New York’s many district attorneys. After that historic switch, the issuance of tickets for weed became the new norm for some of New York’s finest. Leading to both a dramatic drop and disparity in cannabis-related incarcerations.
One notable example of this discrepancy makes the problem painfully clear.
When compared to the predominately white section of the Bronx known as Throggs Neck (located in the 45th Precinct), Kingsbridge (located in the 52nd Precinct), and mostly Dominican, police in the 45th handed out 415 tickets for the minor possession of marijuana during the first nine months of 2015 — making just 48 arrests. Conversely, cops in the 52nd Precinct of Kingsbridge (also in the Bronx) made 720 arrests and issued 168 tickets.
No doubt, the Big Apple still has a bumpy road to hoe regarding police brutality, race relations and class warfare… but 11,000 fewer lives ruined is definitely a great place to start.
(Photo Courtesy of New York Daily News)