Finding #2: Extreme Racial Disparities in Marijuana Possession Arrests Exist Across the Country: Blacks Are 3.73 Times More Likely Than Whites to Be Arrested for Marijuana Possession • In 2010, nationwide the white arrest rate was 192 per 100,000 whites, and the black arrest rate was 716 per 100,000 blacks.
• Racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests are widespread and exist in every region in the country. In the Northeast and Midwest, Blacks are over four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites. In the South, Blacks are over three times more likely, and in the West, they are twice more likely. In over one-third of the states, Blacks are more than four times likelier to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites.
• Racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests exist regardless of county household income levels, and are greater in middle income and more affluent counties. In the counties with the 15 highest median household incomes (between $85K–$115K), Blacks are two to eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites. In the 15 counties in the middle of the household income range (between $45K–$46K), Blacks are over three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites. In the poorest 15 counties (median household incomes between $22K–$30K), Blacks are generally 1.5 to five times more likely to be arrested. Racial Disparities at the State Level • The states (plus the District of Columbia) with the largest racial disparities in marijuana possession arrest rates per 100,000 are:
Black Arrest RateWhite Arrest RateTimes More Likely Blacks Arrested
Iowa1,4541748.34
D.C.1,4891858.05
Minnesota8351077.81
Illinois1,5262027.56
Wisconsin1,2852155.98
Kentucky6971175.95
Pennsylvania6061175.19
Even at the “lower end” of the spectrum, the disparities persist. In Oregon, for example, the state with the fifth lowest disparity, the Black arrest rate (563) is still more than double the white arrest rate (271).
The states, plus the District of Columbia, with the highest Black arrest rates per 100,000 for marijuana possession were:
Black Arrest Rate
Nebraska 1,699
Illinois 1,526
D.C. 1,489
Iowa 1,454
Wisconsin 1,285
Nevada 1,272
Wyoming 1,223
New York 1,192
• While the Black arrest rate for marijuana possession was under 300
in only two states, Hawaii (179) and Ma**achusetts (61) (following
decriminalization), the white arrest rate was over 300 in only three states: Wyoming (376), Nebraska (365), and Alaska (318). In only 10 states was the Black arrest rate under 500, while in no state was the white arrest rate over 400.
• Of marijuana possession arrests in the District of Columbia, a staggering 91% were of Blacks. In Mississippi, 69% of all marijuana possession arrests were of Blacks. In Georgia and Louisiana, the numbers are 64% and 61%, respectively. These figures are further illuminated when taking into account the difference between Blacks' percentage of marijuana arrests and Blacks' percentage of state populations. In Illinois, for instance, Blacks make up 15% of the population, but account for 58% of the marijuana possession arrests. Similarly, in Alabama, 60% of the marijuana possession arrests are of Blacks, yet Blacks account for less than 25% of the population. In Kentucky and Minnesota, Blacks represent only 8% and 5% of the respective states, but 36% and 31% of the marijuana possession arrests. Racial Disparities at the County Level • This report examined 945 counties in the United States with at least 30,000 residents and where Blacks make up at least 2% of the population; these 945 counties represent 78% of the total United States population. (26) Of these counties, in only 37 (or 3.9%) is the white arrest rate for marijuana possession higher than the Black arrest rate. In other words, in over 96% of the counties examined in this report, Blacks are more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession.
• The counties with the largest racial disparities in arrest rates for
marijuana possession are not necessarily in the states with the largest
racial disparities in arrest rates. For instance, Missouri has the 40th
largest Black-white arrest ratio (2.63) of all the states, but in St. Louis City, MO, one white person is arrested for every 18.4 Black persons arrested. Georgia has the 21st largest racial disparity (3.69), but in Gordon, GA, the ratio is one white arrest for every 14.1 Black arrests (or 136 white arrests per 100,000 as compared to 1,921 Black arrests per 100,000). Ohio is 16th on the racial disparity list (4.11), but in Allen, OH, Blacks are 13.2 times more likely to be arrested than whites. Kings County (Brooklyn), New York has the 10th largest racial disparity in marijuana possession arrests at 4.52); 161 whites per 100,000 are arrested, whereas 1,554 Blacks per 100,000 are arrested — a ratio of 9.68.
• The counties with the highest Black arrest rates for marijuana possession are spread throughout the country, from Campbell and Kenton, KY, to Worcester, MD; from Dare, NC, to Livingston and Montgomery, IL; from Onondaga, Broome, and Chautauqua, NY, to Chambers, Kleberg, Hopkins, Cooke, and Van Zandt, TX.
• 92% of marijuana possession arrests in Baltimore City, MD, were of
Blacks; 87% in Fulton, GA (includes Atlanta); 85% in Prince George's, MD; 83% in Shelby, TN (includes Memphis); and 82% in Philadelphia, PA.
• These staggering racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests
exist in many counties irrespective of the overall Black population. For example, in Lycoming and Lawrence, PA, and in Kenton County, KY,
Blacks make up less than 5% of the population, but are between 10 and
11 times more likely than whites to be arrested. In Hennepin County, MN
(includes Minneapolis), and Champaign and Jackson Counties, IL, Blacks
are 12%, 13%, and 15% of the population, respectively, but are 9 times
more likely to be arrested than whites. In Brooklyn, NY, and St. Louis City, MO, Blacks comprise 37% and 50% of the residents, respectively, and are 12 and 18 times more likely to be arrested than whites. In Chambers, AL, and St. Landry, LA, Blacks account for more than twice as many marijuana arrests (90% and 89%, respectively) than they do of the overall population (39% and 42%, respectively). In Morgan and Pike Counties, AL, Blacks make up just over 12% and 37% of the population, respectively, but account for 100% of the marijuana possession arrests.