An American is arrested for violating cannabis laws every 30 seconds.

Drug War Clock | DrugSense:

'via Blog this'

The U.S. federal government spent over $15 billion dollars in 2010 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $500 per second. 

Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy 

State and local governments spent at least another 25 billion dollars. 

Source: Jeffrey A. Miron & Kathrine Waldock: "The Budgetary Impact of Drug Prohibition," 2010. 

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People Arrested for Drug Law Offenses this Year 

 

Arrests for drug law violations this year are expected to exceed the 1,663,582 arrests of 2009. Law enforcement made more arrests for drug abuse violations (an estimated 1.6 million arrests, or 13.0 percent of the total number of arrests) than for any other offense in 2009. 

Someone is arrested for violating a drug law every 19 seconds.

Source: Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

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People Arrested for Cannabis Law Offenses this Year 

 

Police arrested an estimated 858,408 persons for cannabis violations in 2009. Of those charged with cannabis violations, approximately 89 percent were charged with possession only. An American is arrested for violating cannabis laws every 30 seconds. 

Source: Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

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People Incarcerated for Drug Law Offenses this Year 

 

Since December 31, 1995, the U.S. prison population has grown an average of 43,266 inmates per year. About 25 per cent are sentenced for drug law violations. 

Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics 

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According to ONDCP, the $18.822 Billion spent by the federal government on the drug war in 2002 breaks down as follows: Treatment (with Research): $3.587 Billion (19.1% of total) Prevention (with Research): $2.548 Billion (13.5% of total) Domestic Law Enforcement: $9.513 Billion (50.5% of total) Interdiction: $2.074 Billion (11.0% of total) International: $1.098 Billion (5.8% of total) In other words, $12.686 Billion in 2002 was directed to supply reduction, i.e. law enforcement (67.4% of total), and $6.136 Billion to demand reduction, i.e. treatment, prevention and education (32.6% of total).