tHe War on MariJUana in BlacK anD WHite

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................4
ACknoWlEdgEMEnTS .......................................................6
I. InTRodUCTIon ............................................................7
II. FIndIngS ................................................................14
Finding #1: Marijuana Possession Arrests Increased Between 2001-2010 .......14
Finding #2: Racial disparities in Marijuana Possession Arrests Exist
Throughout the Country ........................................17
Finding #3: Racial disparities in Marijuana Possession Arrests Increased
Between 2001–2010 ..................................................20
Finding #4: Blacks and Whites Use Marijuana at Similar Rates ................21
Finding #5: States Are Wasting Money on Marijuana Possession Arrests .......22
PRoFIlE: dEMARCUS SAndERS ..............................................24
PRoFIlE: AlFREdo CARRASqUIllo ...........................................27
III. METhodologY ..........................................................29
A. data .................................................................30
i. Sources ............................................................30
ii. The Latino Data Problem .............................................32
iii. Counting and Classifying Marijuana Possession Arrests .................33
B. Coverage Ratios .......................................................34
IV. MARIjUAnA ARRESTS hAVE RISEn SIgnIFICAnTlY BETWEEn 2001 And 2010,
And ThE RACIAl dISPARITIES oF ThoSE ARRESTS hAVE InCREASEd .........36
A. The Rise in Marijuana Arrests Between 2001 and 2010 ....................36
i. National Data .......................................................36
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