The U.S. Sentencing Commission analysis has found that cannabis federal prosecutions decreased again last year, with fewer than 1,000 individuals being charged in marijuana trafficking cases. These marijuana busts make up a little more than 5% of the total drug-related cases that went through the federal justice system last year, which shows that more federal officials have adopted policies that place less emphasis on pursuing individuals over cannabis, especially now as more states move to legalize marijuana.
The report also found that the average sentence for a cannabis trafficking offense was 30 months, which is roughly one-half of the sentence imposed for busts that involve drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Methamphetamine-related charges had the highest average sentence at 90 months, with the report highlighting that nearly one-half of those who faced drug charges in 2021 were for meth trafficking.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission recorded about 1,100 marijuana cases in 2020, which is slightly higher than last year’s figures. In 2019, there was a drop in cases involving cannabis despite the increase in overall federal prosecutions for drug-related crimes. The figures recorded these last three years are significantly lower, especially when compared to 2012’s figures, when more than 7,000 federal cannabis cases were reported.
It was in 2012 that voters in a pair of states approved measures to legalize adult-use cannabis at the ballot. That year, cannabis was at the top of the list of drugs involved in federal cases. Currently, marijuana is at the bottom of that list, which shows considerable progress.
In a statement, deputy director of NORML Paul Armentano stated that the priorities and attitudes of federal prosecutors had shifted as more states legalized cannabis, despite Congress’ failure to amend marijuana laws. Armentano noted that the time had come for federal legislators to codify this change in priorities by de-scheduling cannabis.
Morgan Fox, NORML’s political director, echoed Armentano’s sentiments, adding that despite this drop in federal cannabis prosecutions, the country’s outdated federal laws still had an unnecessary and substantial impact on the lives of real individuals. Fox noted that Congress had an opportunity to change this and called for legislators to end the country’s outdated cannabis prohibition policies and help those who’d been unjustly impacted by them.
This comes as congressional legislators take steps to legalize marijuana at the federal level, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer planning to introduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act next month. This bill, as well as another measure sponsored by Jerrold Nadler, chair of the Judiciary Committee, all seek to federally legalize marijuana.
The statistics showing that marijuana-related arrests are declining offers hope that as more states legalize marijuana and entities such as American Cannabis Partners are allowed to operate, social justice will prevail and certain sections of society, such as racial minorities, will no longer be victimized as was the case during the height of prohibition.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to American Cannabis Partners are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACP
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