Marijuana Statistics
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Marijuana Statistics

Marijuana statistics indicate that marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the united States. A recent government survey tells us that nearly 69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. About 10 million had used the drug in the month immediately prior to the survey.
 
The latest marijuana statistics treatment data indicate that in 2006 marijuana was the most common illicit drug of abuse and was responsible for about 16 percent (289,988) of all admissions to treatment facilities in the United States. Marijuana treatment admissions were primarily male (73.8 percent), White (51.5 percent), and young (36.1 percent were in the 15–19 age range). Those in treatment for primary marijuana abuse had begun use at an early age: 56.2 percent had abused it by age 14 and 92.5 percent had abused it by age 18.
 
Marijuana statistics reflect that marijuana is so popular (39.8 percent of the U.S. population has tried marijuana at least once) in part because it is regarded as a relatively "safe" drug. However, efforts to educate youth about marijuana abuse may be contributing to its slight decline.

Marijuana Statistics:

  • According to the United Nations estimate, 141 million people around the world use marijuana. This represents about 2.5 percent of the world population.

  • A survey conducted in 2005 by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated 97.5 million Americans aged 12 or older tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, representing 40.1% of the U.S. population in that age group.

  • The number of past year marijuana users in 2005 was approximately 25.4 million (10.4% of the population aged 12 or older) and the number of past month marijuana users was 14.6 million (6.0%).

  • There have been over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana poses. Not one study has shown marijuana to be safe.

  • Another area of marijuana statistics is drug abuse violations and arrests. There were a total of 1,846,351 state and local arrests for drug abuse violations in the United States during 2005. Of the drug arrests, 4.9% were for marijuana sale/manufacturing and 37.7% were for marijuana possession.

  • In fiscal year 2003, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made 5,679 arrests related to cannabis, accounting for 20.9% of all DEA arrests during the year. This is an increase from fiscal year 2002, when 5,576 cannabis-related arrests were made by the DEA, accounting for 18.5% of all DEA arrests.

  • Reaction time for motor skills, such as driving, is reduced by 41% after smoking 1 joint and is reduced 63% after smoking 2 joints.

  • A typical joint contains between 0.5 and 1.0 gram of cannabis plant matter, which varies in THC content between 5 and 150 milligrams.

  • In 1995, 165,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of addiction, showing they need help to stop using the drug.

  • Among juveniles from 12 to 17 the average age of first marijuana usage is 14 years old. 

  • Marijuana contains 421 chemical components, 60 of which are the feature of only this substance. 

  • Since 1990, nearly 5.9 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined.

  • In 2000, state and local law enforcement arrested 734,498 people for marijuana violations.  646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture". This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI.

  • The total number of marijuana arrests far exceeds the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

  • 75% of drug-related criminal charges are connected to marijuana.

2022 MARIJUANA ARRESTS
   
2001 723,627
2000 734,498
1999 704,812
1998 682,885
1997 695,200
1996 641,642
1995 588,963
1994 499,122
1993 380,689
1992 342,314

Marijuana Statistics - The Gateway Drug

Marijuana statistics show that marijuana use becomes a gateway to other drugs of abuse. That is, those who use marijuana are more likely to move on to "harder" and more dangerous drugs like heroin and cocoaine. Marijuana statistics (SAMHSA) also reports that the younger someone is when he or she uses marijuana, the more likely he or she is to use other drugs when they reach adulthood.

The following marijuana statistics show marijuana use in relation to other drugs of abuse:

  • 62 percent of adults who had used marijuana before the age of 15 have used cocaine at some point during their lives. For those who had never used marijuana, that number is 0.6 percent. 

  • Those who use marijuana in youth are more likely to use heroin. That number is 9 percent as compared to 0.1 percent for those who had never used marijuana.

  • Psychotherapeutic drugs: 53.9 percent of those who used marijuana before the age of 15 report that they have also tried to use psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical uses. The rate for those who have not used marijuana is 5.1 percent. 

  • These marijuana statistics clearly show that marijuana use can pre-dispose people for substance abuse later in life. 

  • Even with marijuana use on the decline in general, it is clear that with 2.1 million people using marijuana for the first time each year, this is still an issue. 

Marijuana Production Statistics

  • Marijuana remains the fourth largest cash crop in America amassing a greater value to farmers than tobacco, wheat, or cotton. Despite law enforcement spending an estimated $10 billion annually to pursue efforts to outlaw the plant.
  • United States marijuana growers harvested a minimum of 5.5 million pounds of saleable marijuana in 1997 worth $15.1 billion to growers and $25.2 billion on the retail market.

  • Government crop yield estimates place the value of these 8.7 million harvested plants at approximately $26.3 billion to growers and a street value of $43.8 billion.

  • The weighted average price of marijuana reported for 1997 is $288 an ounce or $4610 per pound.


Marijuana Statistics
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