Are around 1,000 people arrested annually for marijuana possession in Nevada?
By Esther Tsvayg
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YES
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Nevada averaged around 1,473 arrests for marijuana possession between 2017 and 2021. By year, arrests totaled 1,572 in 2017, 2,013 in 2018, 1,728 in 2019, 994 in 2020 and 1,060 in 2021. The FBI tallies arrests from marijuana sales separately.
In 2016, there were 6,103 arrests for marijuana possession. Such arrests have decreased significantly since Nevada voters legalized recreational cannabis in 2016.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
FBI Crime Data Explorer Number of Arrests for Cannabis Possession in Nevada, 2016-2021
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