Number of marijuana possession arrests in New York City in 2009: 46,400 (Source: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services).
Percentage change for NYC marijuana possession arrests in 2009 compared to number in 1990: +4,000 (Source: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services).
Percentage of males among all NYC marijuana possession arrestees in 2009: 90 (Source: New York Civil Liberties Union).
Estimated cost (in millions) of marijuana arrests to NYC taxpayers every year: 70 (Source: New York Civil Liberties Union).
Percentage of New York State residents who support legalizing medical cannabis: 50 (Source: March Siena Research Institute survey).
Percentage of world population living in the U.S.: 4 (Source: 2000 U.S. Census).
Percentage of world prison population incarcerated in the U.S.: 25 (Source: International Center for Prison Studies).
Estimated number of U.S. prisoners for every 100,000 U.S. citizens: 751 (Source: International Center for Prison Studies).
Estimated number of Russian prisoners for every 100,000 Russian citizens: 627 (Source: International Center for Prison Studies).
Percentage of U.S. prisoners incarcerated for drug convictions: 25 (Source: 2008 Justice Policy Institute report).
Percentage change from 1989 to 2009 in the number of inmates in U.S. state prisons for drug convictions: +550 (Source: 2009 Justice Policy Institute report).
Ratio of U.S. prisoners incarcerated for marijuana convictions versus other drug convictions: 1 in 8 (Source: 2007 U.S. Bureau of Justice report).
Percentage of marijuana-related arrests among all U.S. drug arrests in 2005: 42.6 (Source: 2005 FBI crime data).
Number of Americans arrested in 2005 for “sale/manufacture” of cannabis: 90,471 (Source: 2005 FBI crime data).
Number of Americans arrested in 2005 for simple possession of cannabis: 696,074 (Source: 2005 FBI crime data).
Estimated annual cost (in billions) to U.S. taxpayers for incarcerating citizens convicted of marijuana crimes: 1 (Source: 2007 U.S. Bureau of Justice report).
Estimated annual cost (in billions) to U.S. taxpayers for arresting citizens on marijuana charges: 8 (Source: 2007 U.S. Department of Justice data).
Percentage of Americans who say they used cannabis at least once: 40 (Source: March Pew Research poll).
Percentage of Americans who support the sale and use of medical cannabis: 73 (Source: March Pew Research poll).
Percentage of Americans who oppose the sale and use of medical cannabis: 23 (Source: March Pew Research poll).
Percentage of Americans ages 18-29 who support the sale and use of medical cannabis: 80 (Source: March Pew Research poll).
Percentage of Americans ages 65 or older who support the sale and use of medical cannabis: 63 (Source: March Pew Research poll).