New Report Reveals How Cannabis Arrests Have Dropped Following Legalization

A new report from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) provides insight into the dramatic decline in cannabis arrests across the country, especially in states where cannabis has been legalized. The FBI Crime explorer-based data shows a striking difference between the legalization states and those that are still enforcing prohibition. Although the number of cannabis-related arrests across the United States has dropped, the report discloses that tens of millions of people are still being charged with crimes in states where cannabis is illegal.

According to a press release from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), since 1995, law enforcement has made more than 21 million cannabis arrests in the U.S. However, MPP’s new report shows that as states move toward legalization and sensible regulation, the era of mass arrests is beginning to wane, but not everywhere. 

“Cannabis legalization across 24 states has driven a historic decline in cannabis arrests nationwide, from a high of nearly 900,000 to over 200,000 annually. That is still an alarmingly high number, with each of those arrests representing an actual person whose current reality and future prospects may well be derailed by a criminal record. Across half of our country, hundreds of thousands of Americans are still being funneled into the criminal justice system every year for a victimless ‘crime’ that is very likely legal in the next state over.” -Adam J. Smith, Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project

Key Findings from MPP’s Cannabis Arrest Report:

• Annual cannabis arrests in the United States (including Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories) have dropped from a peak of over 870,000 in 2007 to 211,104 in 2025.
   
• Cannabis arrests dropped in every state after legalization. On average, legalization states’ cannabis arrest rates have dropped 85.53%, with possession arrests dropping by an average of 84.61% and sales arrests decreasing by an average of 80.39%.
   
• The 24 states that have legalized cannabis made a total of 222,261 fewer cannabis arrests in 2025 than they did the year prior to their legalization of cannabis.
   
• In 2025, law enforcement in legalization states reported 22,357 cannabis arrests, while prohibition states reported 186,581 cannabis arrests. 
   
• Prohibition states made more than eight times as many cannabis arrests than legalization states in 2025, although they have a smaller total population. 

Beyond the data, the report features accounts illustrating the life-altering impacts of cannabis criminalization, from lost employment opportunities to housing instability.

About The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms. Visit www.mpp.org for more information.