Cannabis News

More Than 200,000 People Were Arrested For Marijuana In The U.S. Last Year, FBI Data Shows

Published

4 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

admin

Nearly 188,000 people were arrested in the US last year for possession of marijuana, according to the FBI’s latest annual crime report, and another 16,000 for selling or growing cannabis. However, these figures are underestimated given the inconsistencies in federal data and questions about the agency’s methodology.

The entire 2024 data set is based on more than 14 million crimes reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which is used to document and analyze national crime trends. The report covers 95.6 percent of the U.S. population, the FBI said.

This latest data shows that cannabis-related crimes decreased slightly compared to 2023, from 200,306 possession arrests to 187,792 in 2024 and from 16,844 sales or manufacturing arrests to 16,244.

Advocates see the reduction as a reflection of the success of the legalization movement spreading at the state level, but also point out that marijuana is still the most commonly arrested illegal substance in Americans’ “war on drugs.”

“While the total number of marijuana-related arrests has dropped nationwide in recent years, it’s clear that marijuana-related charges are still a major driver of drug war enforcement in the United States,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano told Marijuana Moment.

In the new report, 27 percent of all drug possession arrests were for marijuana, more than for any other substance specifically listed.

Because not all agencies provide complete data for reporting periods, the FBI explained that the bureau calculates estimated crime numbers by essentially extrapolating “using the data provided following a standard estimation procedure.” In terms of total arrests reported for the category called “drug/narcotics,” for example, the FBI said there were 831,446 arrests.

At the same time, frustrations over the inconsistency of the FBI the data Reports of cannabis and other drug arrest trends have been maintained. Different sections of the report report different numbers for seemingly similar categories of crime.

An FBI chart says there were 1,413,223 “drug/narcotics crimes” in 2024. Another uses the figure of 1,577,175 in the same heading. A third total is 1,870,804.

Another section says there were 822,488 arrests for drug abuse violations in 2024, about 12 percent of the estimated 7.5 million arrests nationwide.

The FBI data also shows trends over time, indicating that 1,055,013 drug-related charges were filed in 2015 and 600,400 drug-related charges were filed in 2024, a decrease of about 43 percent, although it is unclear how much of the change is due to changes in the agency’s arrest practices and methods. State drug laws over the past decade.

In terms of controlled substance seizures in 2024, the agency said 386,540 cases of marijuana were seized out of a total of 1,072,704 drug seizures, about 36 percent of enforcement actions.

Lawmakers, researchers, and the media rely on FBI arrest data to understand and contextualize law enforcement trends. Not only do inconsistencies affect the public’s understanding of crime and law enforcement, but also how policies are developed and implemented.

The bureau was tipped off to the FBI’s alleged marijuana bug in May 2022, when Eric Sterling, a longtime drug reformer and former congressional staffer, said he discovered the presence of a Maryland police department. reporting cannabis possession citations issued under the state’s decriminalization law at the time as arrests As part of a data sharing partnership with the FBI.

Because other state and local law enforcement agencies don’t seem to report cannabis citations as arrests, Sterling reasoned, the inconsistent practice can significantly skew the FBI’s annual reports, making it harder to draw reasonable policy conclusions from the data.

In 2023—14 months after Sterling sent the query—the office finally responded. However, instead of addressing the apparent issue, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General’s Investigations Division said it had determined that “the issues you raised are more appropriate for consideration by another DOJ office.” He referred the inquiry to the FBI’s investigative division.

The FBI’s report on cannabis enforcement is also at risk because local and state police are not required to share data to inform the agency’s annual report, which is It provides a comprehensive view of law enforcement activities. The agency itself says that some data may not be comparable to previous years, due to varying levels of participation over time.

—
It’s Marijuana Moment tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25 a month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a recent filing The process of reorganizing marijuana is at a standstill in the phase it has been in for monthsdespite the agency head’s prior commitment to senators that he would prioritize the issue if confirmed for the role.

President Donald Trump said in August that he planned to make a decision on his proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) within weeks.

The overhaul would not legalize marijuana, however, so it remains to be seen how the reform might affect arrest rates reported in future FBI annual reports.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

Allegations of price dumping cast shadow on Portugal’s medical cannabis

Published

12 hours ago

November 8, 2025

admin

Portugal has spent the last few years cultivating a reputation as Europe’s gateway to medical cannabis. Exports are booming, the government and local media portray a very vibrant sector with fertile land, progressive laws and a soft regulatory environment.

But behind the glowing export figures, there is growing concern that the country’s success story is due to what some describe as “greenwashing” of the industry.

According to a person familiar with the matter, most of the cannabis that Portugal “exports” is not grown in Portugal. Instead, large companies import low-quality flowers from abroad, process them locally, and then ship them with a Portuguese flag on the label. “Portugal has exported about 35 tons of medicinal cannabis flowers so far,” says the source. “Only about 2 tons were processed here. The rest came from elsewhere.”

The concern is not the import and processing model itself, but the lack of transparency and its impact on the local growers who actually cultivate the plants in Portugal. “They grow cheap overseas for recreational markets,” the person says. “It is then processed in Portugal and sold in pharmacies across Europe at prices that are impossible for real growers. This is clear price dumping.”

Portugal grew on the cheap
According to the source, some European pharmacies are offering Portugal-labeled medical flower for as little as 1.60 euros per gram. Insiders say even the lowest-cost foreign producers can’t get that price and still meet European pharmaceutical standards. “The cheapest production cost I have seen abroad was around 1.40 euros per gram,” explained the source. “Processing in Portugal alone can cost about sixty cents. So how do they sell it for 1.60 euros?” According to them, the reason is simple. On the one hand, these big companies have to show their shareholders that they are moving money and product. On the other hand, they use the availability of capital to drive down the price, gain more market share, and crowd out smaller companies, which are ultimately bought by the same big companies. At the same time, the issue is not only related to the economy. Local producers say quality is also at stake.

Some sources say that many pharmacies turn away from the product with the Portuguese flag, knowing that it is not the real product produced in Portugal. “They think that Portugal is the equivalent of low-quality flower. This hurts the companies that really work here with strict European pharmaceutical practices,” says the person familiar with the matter.

Small farmers struggling to survive
Portugal has a large number of licensed cannabis operators, but few are growing at scale. According to the source, of all the cultivation licenses issued, only a few are actually operational. “Some growers produce one to three kilos per harvest,” says the person. “They have no strategy, no supply chain. It’s just a facade to show that they are somewhat operational, while in fact most of the products are imported and processed locally. These people entered the space without knowing how to run a medical cultivation project.” According to the insider, companies rushing to import, rebrand and dump products on the market are not building a sustainable sector in Portugal.

“I expect six to eight companies to fail next year,” they say. “Everybody smiles at conferences, everybody talks about innovation. Nobody talks about cooperation.”

Pressure on regulators and call for research
The person says that regulators are to blame for the situation, but insists that the responsibility lies with companies that lack due diligence and compliance. “Regulators apply the rules. They are not there to do due diligence on behalf of companies,” they say. “Some companies had problems because they had false import documents from foreign suppliers. They blame the regulators for that, and the responsibility should lie with the operators in question, not having the right people doing the right compliance work.”

The source said there are plans to file a complaint with the European Commission under Regulation 2017/1036, which covers dumping of imports from the European Union when it causes injury to a domestic industry. “We are gathering evidence,” they say. “We want regulators to suspend import licenses where dumping is taking place.”

Meanwhile, international monitoring systems are being tightened. According to the source, the EU and the United Nations are implementing new digital tracking and tracing requirements. “Everything will have to be registered. All legal documents, all import and export certificates,” says the insider. “This should be ready in six months.”

Crossroads
Portugal’s promise as the gateway to European cannabis is not dead, but the road ahead is becoming increasingly complex. The sector needs scale, collaboration and transparency if it hopes to avoid the boom and bust cycle seen in North America. “I have nothing against importing and processing,” says the source. “What I find unacceptable is selling a flower with the Portuguese flag when they don’t grow here.”

Cannabis News

Beer Industry Trade Group Calls Out Hemp THC Sector’s ‘Bad Actors’ For Allegedly Marketing To Children

Published

12 hours ago

November 8, 2025

admin

“You’ll never see a beer ad featuring Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.”

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

The US beer industry is targeting makers of THC-infused drinks and edibles in a campaign that could have repercussions in Minnesota, the state that sparked a national explosion in sales of hemp-derived beverages.

The beer industry, which has seen declining sales — especially among younger consumers — has joined the marijuana industry. in seeking federal rule of THC-infused beverages, currently regulated only by state laws.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) recently shocked the hemp and THC beverage industries when he signed a letter to Congressional leaders with 38 other state attorneys general asking Congress to clarify the federal definition of hemp.

the letter said that “bad actors” have taken advantage of a “loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed the sale of potent, unregulated THC products that pose a threat to the general public and children in particular.

“Unless Congress acts, this gross distortion of the hemp provision in the 2018 Farm Bill will continue to fuel the rapid growth of an underserved industry that threatens public health and safety and undermines law enforcement nationwide,” the letter said.

At a recent Semafor-sponsored conference, Brian Crawford, CEO of the Beer Institute, a trade association that advocates for the industry, said beer is heavily regulated by federal agencies. He said brewers are subject to marketing, advertising and labeling regulations and must seek federal approval for their formulas.

Age restrictions are also strictly enforced, Crawford said, and the sale of beer to those under 21 is prohibited.

However, Crawford said there are no federal restrictions on THC-infused products. He said these “bad actors” in the THC drink and gummy industries are packaging and marketing products that appeal to children, including THC Nerd candies, which are ultra-high-potency THC edibles.

“You’ll never see a beer ad featuring Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny,” Crawford said.

“Natural Social Tonic”

An amendment passed in the House Agriculture Committee last year as a major Farm Bill consideration would change the federal definition of legal hemp to include only “natural, derived and non-intoxicating cannabinoids.”

This means that any cannabinoid manufactured outside of the hemp plant would be outlawed, criminalizing the production of hemp-based gummies, drinks and other edibles, as well as oils, soaps and other products made from hemp.

A Minnesota state law passed in 2022 allows the production and consumption of hemp-based edibles and other products. But the now stalled House Farm Bill’s hemp amendment would make these products illegal under federal law.

The partisan gridlock in Congress has made it unlikely that there would be a new Farm Bill this year. So the fight against THC-infused products has shifted to the agriculture spending bill, which Congress is likely to pass once the federal shutdown ends.

Jake Bullock, the maker of Cann THC drinks, which are marketed as “all natural social tonics,” said he joins Ellison and other state attorneys general in defending rules that prevent “bad actors” from making highly potent synthetic products and marketing THC-infused products to children.

But he also said overly broad regulations would hurt the $30 billion industry, which employs 330,000 Americans.

“We would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Cann told MinnPost.

Cann’s success represents exponential growth in the multi-billion dollar market for hemp-derived intoxicants.

Bullock said he started his business in Venice Beach, California, and then produced his drinks in Minnesota after the state passed a law allowing the sale of hemp-infused products.

Today, it sells its beverages in about 30 states and Cann products can be found in many liquor stores and other outlets in Minnesota. It recently joined Target.

“The reason consumers like the products is that they work like alcohol,” Bullock said. “If you like it, you can have another one an hour later.”

Bullock said drinking several cans of Cann can be intoxicating, but there is no hangover. He also said that many drinkers have reduced their alcohol consumption in favor of his drinks.

Bullock also said Gen Z favors their drink over alcohol because they socialize differently than older Americans and are less likely to spend money at bars.

The need to address “bad actors”.

The potency of a THC infused drink depends on how many milligrams of THC the product contains. State laws vary. In Minnesota, it is limited to no more than 10 milligrams. Other states are stricter. Virginia and Connecticut cover it at 2 milligrams.

However, Crawford said “bad actors” make drinks with as much as 200 milligrams of THC “in a 12-ounce can.”

“That needs to be addressed,” he said.

Bullock, who also spoke at the Semafor event, told MinnPost that he would support lowering the THC level nationally to about 5 milligrams. He said eliminating synthetic THC was also fine, along with eliminating lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound in natural cannabis.

He said he believes Ellison has been “misled” into signing a letter asking Congress to “act decisively in the (2018) Farm Bill to clarify the definition of hemp to ensure that intoxicating THC products are taken off the market.”

Analysts say that would kill Minnesota’s market for THC-infused beverages and edibles.

Ellison attempted to clarify his position in a headline statement “Protecting Minnesota’s THC Industry”. In it, Ellison said he did no He wants a ban on all THC-infused products, but has sought federal regulations “to help out-of-state companies ignore Minnesota’s carefully crafted THC rules and sell harmful products in our state.”

“Minnesota’s legalization of edible THC was smart and safety-conscious, and unfortunately the loophole created by the federal government is anything but,” Ellison wrote. “As a result, there are very strong THC products coming into Minnesota that are marketed to children, and I’m not going to stop out-of-state businesses from preying on young Minnesotans.”

However, public comments on the attorney general’s statement indicated that the letter he signed would also ban intoxicating THC-infused products and outlaw a lucrative industry in Minnesota.

“The letter you signed explicitly calls for a ‘ban on products with intoxicating levels of THC, of any kind and no matter how it’s derived,'” wrote one commenter. Your letter would undo all the good work done by Minnesota lawmakers over the past five years, recriminalize access to THC for people who want to get over alcohol, and crack down on one of the few brewers.

While the beer industry may seek a crackdown on THC beverages, small brewers, facing a shrinking market, are increasingly getting involved in the hemp beverage market by creating alcohol-free THC-infused beverages.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, is asking Congress to delay any changes for 18 months in order to conduct a comprehensive study on the best ways to regulate the hemp industry.

It’s unclear how Paul’s congressional colleagues will respond.

This the article appeared for the first time MinnPost and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

Garden State to get new branded vape products

Published

2 days ago

November 7, 2025

admin

Verano Holdings has announced an exclusive partnership with Raw Garden, a grower and producer of cannabis products that balance flavor and potency, to bring the California company’s flagship product line to New Jersey consumers. Beginning November 11, Raw Garden will debut its cartridges and All-in-Ones at Verano’s four Zen Leaf dispensaries in New Jersey and third-party dispensaries throughout the Garden State.

“As one of California’s most popular cannabis brands, our exclusive partnership with Raw Garden is a great opportunity to bring some of the West Coast’s most beloved products to the East Coast for New Jersey’s cannabis consumers,” said Verano Founder and CEO George Archos. “With the continued growth of the cannabis category, this partnership strengthens the extensive portfolio of vape products we have launched through 2025, and we look forward to introducing Raw Garden’s award-winning products to Garden State cannabis connoisseurs.”

“We are excited to launch Raw Garden’s signature vapes throughout New Jersey and introduce our California flavors to one of the nation’s largest cannabis markets,” said Raw Garden CEO Thomas Martin. “With a shared vision of purity and consistency, we’re thrilled to partner with an industry leader like Verano. As this is our first launch outside of our home state, we’re excited to officially begin our journey on the East Coast, making our products available to cannabis enthusiasts in the garden.”

For more information:
Summer Holdings
verano.com