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DEA Seizures Of Marijuana Plants Declined Precipitously Since 2010
DEA Seizures Of Marijuana Plants Declined Precipitously Since 2010
By Nicole Flatow
As public opinion, state law, and even federal law enforcers move away from marijuana criminalization, the number of marijuana plants destroyed by DEA has dropped sharply over the past few years. According to recent statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the agency eradicated 62 percent fewer marijuana plants in 2012 than in 2010, in a drop from 10.3 million plants 3.9 million. This is the lowest rate of plant destruction in nearly a decade, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Unsurprisingly, the number of arrests coming out of the marijuana eradication program also declined significantly over that period, from 9,700 in 2010 to 6,500 in 2012.
The majority of this decrease has come in California, which grows the most marijuana but was also the largest target of raids. In an analysis of this data, Paul Armentano, deputy director for NORML, points out that this decline may be more about shrinking budgets than about a changed attitude towards marijuana, reasoning that DEA seizures initially surged when Obama took office. Interestingly, the value of the assets seized dropped only slightly from $34 to $32 million during that same period.
No doubt, former DEA officials have been among the most vocal critics of less criminal punishment for marijuana. But there is reason to believe even the agency committed to cracking down on drug crimes may be changing its attitude. While Deputy Attorney General James Cole’s recent memo on a scaled-back approach to marijuana prosecutions applies only to U.S. Attorneys, the Drug Enforcement Administration also reports to the U.S. Attorney General. And a change of policy from the top should affect all of its offices.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/09/13/2613921/dea-seizures-marijuana-plants-declined-precipitously-2010/
By Nicole Flatow
As public opinion, state law, and even federal law enforcers move away from marijuana criminalization, the number of marijuana plants destroyed by DEA has dropped sharply over the past few years. According to recent statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the agency eradicated 62 percent fewer marijuana plants in 2012 than in 2010, in a drop from 10.3 million plants 3.9 million. This is the lowest rate of plant destruction in nearly a decade, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Unsurprisingly, the number of arrests coming out of the marijuana eradication program also declined significantly over that period, from 9,700 in 2010 to 6,500 in 2012.
The majority of this decrease has come in California, which grows the most marijuana but was also the largest target of raids. In an analysis of this data, Paul Armentano, deputy director for NORML, points out that this decline may be more about shrinking budgets than about a changed attitude towards marijuana, reasoning that DEA seizures initially surged when Obama took office. Interestingly, the value of the assets seized dropped only slightly from $34 to $32 million during that same period.
No doubt, former DEA officials have been among the most vocal critics of less criminal punishment for marijuana. But there is reason to believe even the agency committed to cracking down on drug crimes may be changing its attitude. While Deputy Attorney General James Cole’s recent memo on a scaled-back approach to marijuana prosecutions applies only to U.S. Attorneys, the Drug Enforcement Administration also reports to the U.S. Attorney General. And a change of policy from the top should affect all of its offices.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/09/13/2613921/dea-seizures-marijuana-plants-declined-precipitously-2010/
Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014581533
9 replies
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Source: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/62
Current percentages from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as of February 25, 2012:
That's the lowest number of drug offenders since 2008.
In fact, the percentage is down from about 56.3 percent in 2000, and is at a pre-1990 low.
Now, it's time to end the war on drugs, the for-profit prison industry and put in place policies that help people to turn their lives around once they're released from the system.
- end -
Here are the most recent numbers:
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/62#sthash.XpHR1FHz.dpbs
Current percentages from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as of August 24, 2013 :
That's now lower than the 2008 number.
It's moving in the right direction, and the new policies will make a huge difference.
ACLU: How to Process Eric Holder’s Major Criminal Law Reform Speech
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023451453
