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READ THE FULL REPORT: Who's Really in Prison for Marijuana

(Washington, D.C.)—The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today released a new publication, "Who's Really in Prison for Marijuana," which de-bunks the myth that our prisons are filled with low-level, non-violent marijuana users. Misinformation about the number of people in prison for marijuana has appeared in many news accounts in recent years, and have been actively spread by pro-drug advocates.

The reality is that people are not routinely sent to prison for simply possessing small amounts of marijuana. Most people in prison for marijuana are violent criminals, repeat offenders, traffickers, or all of the above. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the number of people in state prison solely for marijuana offenses is quite low, and only a fraction of that number are first-time offenders.

• According to the most recent data, just 1.6 percent of the state inmate population were held for offenses involving marijuana only

• Less than 1 percent (0.7 percent) of state prisoners were incarcerated with marijuana possession as the only charge

• Only 0.3 percent of state prisoners convicted for possessing marijuana and no other crimes were first-time offenders.

The numbers on the Federal level reflect the same trend. Of all drug defendants sentenced in Federal courts for marijuana crimes in 2001, the overwhelming majority were convicted for trafficking, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

As often as possible, the criminal justice system offers alternatives to incarceration for those whose underlying problem is substance abuse. Through more than 1,600 drug courts nationwide, adults and adolescents alike achieve recovery, reducing recidivism rates and saving millions in taxpayer dollars. A recent study from the National Institute of Justice found that within one year of graduation, just 16.4 percent of drug court participants had been rearrested and charged with a felony, compared to a 43.5 percent recidivism rate for non-drug court graduates. In his FY '06 budget request, President Bush provided for a $30 million funding increase to expand the drug court system.

ONDCP Director John Walters said, "In truth, our National Drug Control Strategy is a balanced approach that emphasizes prevention and treatment as well as interdiction. It is a modern urban myth that our criminal justice system is neglecting other priorities in order to arrest, convict, and imprison low-level, non-violent marijuana users. Law enforcement and justice professionals dedicate their lives to ensuring that our system is sound, that it is just, and that it protects all members of society. They deserve better than the truth-smearing tactics propagated by those who want to make marijuana and other drugs legal."