Of the 196,643 arrests in Wisconsin in 2023, 13,708 — 7% — were for marijuana possession, according to the Wisconsin Justice Department.
The recent range is narrow:
2019: 6.2%
2020: 6%
2021: 6.6%
2022: 6.7%
Arrest counts are based on the most serious charge issued in a case. They include adult and juvenile arrests.
Wisconsin state Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, claimed in an April 16, 2024, social media post that 57% of all Wisconsin arrests were for marijuana possession.
His staff told Wisconsin Watch that Larson meant to say 57% of drug arrests, based on an ACLU of Wisconsin report about 2018 arrests, and that the staff would try to get his comment corrected in an article that quoted Larson. The article was revised.
Justice Department figures show a slightly lower percentage: In 2023, marijuana possession constituted 52.7% of all drug arrests.
Twenty-four states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Wisconsin Justice Department: Statewide Arrests by Type_4.19.24.xlsx
Google Docs: Justin Bielinski Chris Larson staff email 4/18/24
ACLU of Wisconsin: New ACLU Report: Black People Four Times More Likely To Get Arrested For Marijuana Possession In Wisconsin
Shepherd Express: Up in Smoke: Wisconsin Losing Out on Millions in Marijuana Tax Revenue, Jobs and Justice
Shepherd…
