In August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual crime report, that detailed how marijuana-related arrests persist nationwide. The data found that in 2025, 218,152 individuals were arrested for marijuana possession, while 17,192 have been arrested for marijuana sales and manufacturing. Cannabis advocacy groups, such as The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), warn that this number is likely an underestimation, as 13% of law enforcement agencies did not provide arrest data for 2025. Similarly, the 2025 report did not specify how many of “unspecified drug arrests” were cannabis-related. The figure is higher than in 2024, when 204,036 marijuana-related arrests were reported.
However, the data does reveal notable trends in how cannabis prohibition continues to impact people across the country. Texas saw the highest amount of cannabis possession charges, arresting over 29,000 individuals during 2025. In Texas, even low-level cannabis offenses are considered a criminal misdemeanor and can result in up to 180 days in jail, along with a $2,000 fine. Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin were states that reported over 12,000 cannabis-related arrests.
“While the number of marijuana-related arrests has trended downward for the better part of the past decade, in large part due to 24 states legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults, it is clear that marijuana-related prosecutions still remain a primary driver of drug war enforcement in the United States,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a statement. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to be arrested annually for low-level cannabis-related violations even though a majority of voters no longer believe that the responsible use of marijuana by adults should be a crime.”
The disconnect between cannabis use in legal states compared to states where cannabis remains illegal is palpable.
Marijuana possession charges continue to occur in states with legal cannabis, due to possession limits detailed in voter-approved initiatives. In Arizona, recreational users are limited to 1 ounce (28 grams) of flower, including no more than 5 grams of concentrate. There were 985 cannabis-related arrests in Arizona last year: 834 for possession and 151 for selling.
It’s likely that the next iteration of cannabis justice will seek to challenge possession limits in legal states. In Illinois, Massachusetts, and Vermont, legislation to change possession limits has begun to occur. It’s worth noting that Vermont, where the legal limit increased from 1 ounce to 2, reported 16 cannabis-related arrests, the smallest number reported by any state.
