September 16, 2010 | 5:37 PM | By

Proposition 19: Marijuana by the numbers

FILED UNDER: Politics, DEA, FBI, Gil Kerlikowske, Marijuana, Proposition 19

Alexodus / Flickr

It’s been a math-heavy week in the world of marijuana. There have been two major federal reports, a big speech with a surprising conclusion, and a showdown between a federal official and a student–all about marijuana-related statistics. Here’s a cheat sheet of the highlights:

  • 0.7 percent. The amount by which drug use in the US rose in 2009. The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that marijuana, at 16.7 million users, was the most commonly used illicit drug in 2009. National Drug Control Police Director Gil Kerlikowske, in an interview with CBS radio, attributed this fact partially to “mixed messages” kids get about marijuana. ”I cannot think of a day that I have not seen an article equating marijuana with medicine,” he said.

  • 1.3 percent. The amount by which arrests for marijuana-related crimes rose in 2009. On Monday, the FBI released their annual report on crime statistics. This year’s showed that there were 858,408 arrests for marijuana-related crimes (mostly possession) in 2009, one of the highest numbers in recent history.
  • 60 percent. The amount of Mexican drug cartels’ revenue that comes from marijuana. Kerlikowske, in a press conference today, called marijuana a “small part” of drug cartels’ revenue after being confronted by a questioner from Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The high numbers often cited in the press, he said, are old. Legalizing marijuana would mean a minor dent in their business and would do nothing to alleviate violence along the Mexico-US border. The Huffington Post has since found recent Senate testimony by DEA and FBI officials, citing 60 percent as the correct figure.
  • 10 percent. That’s how far behind Proposition 19 is from where it needs to be in the polls in order to pass. Ethan Nadelmann, head of the Drug Policy Alliance, speaking at a conference on cannabis law reform, said as much. “You need about 60 percent approval rating for a ballot measure going into an election,” he told the group. “Prop 19 is polling at about 50 percent,” he said. “That percentage is likely to go down as we get closer to the election.”
  • 213 percent. The price of high-quality marijuana in Arkansas compared to the price of similar marijuana in British Columbia–where enforcement is more lax–per the anonymous crowd-sourcing site “Price of Weed.” Some fear that if legalized, prices for an ounce of marijuana could fall as low as $38, cutting into projected tax revenues, and increasing marijuana use.

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

  • Peterfitzentite

    pretty damn irrelevant, thanks for wasting my time.

  • LearnActReform

    Actually I agree with Peter. Seems like you tried to cover both sides, but your anti Prop-19 bias is very evident. “I cannot think of a day that I have not seen an article equating marijuana with medicine,” the drug czar said. How does this equate to children? I don't see many kids reading political articles about the current state of medical marijuana in this country. You comment that many fear a drop in marijuana costs equates that to less tax revenue. Less tax revenue than the current 0%?

  • STOPLYING

    you forgot 0, that its 0 deaths attributed to marijuana EVER.

    and by the way it is required by law for the drug czar to oppose the legalization of any illicit drug. So by law he is allowed to lie as long as he is rejecting legalization.

    (12) shall ensure that no Federal funds appropriated to the Office of National Drug Control Policy shall be expended for any study or contract relating to the legalization (for a medical use or any other use) of a substance listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and take such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use of a substance (in any form) that–
    (A) is listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act

    http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/about/98reauthorization.html

  • Joe

    I believe that $38 dollar figure is the cost per ounce for growing the marijuana. In order for the grower to get any profit that price would have to be higher. Taxes wouldn't be hard to implement at all either if you let legitimate business get involved.

  • Mjanswers

    How about the relative likelihood of arrest for African American marijuana users versus caucasian users? How about the simple amount of money spent on enforcement? How about the proportion of deaths from alcohol and prescription medication overdoses versus fatalities from marijuana overdose? The percentage of inmates in prison for marijuana charges and the amount of money spent to keep them incarcerated each year?

  • Xen0

    The drug czar also points out cannibis as the “gateway” drug. If anything alcohol is more dangerous and addictive, and most kids see their parents drinking so that's the gateway drug.

  • meee

    Prices falling would not affect the tax revenue because it is by ounce not base price. 50$ an ounce is 50$ an ounce, if use increases then guess what, so does the revenue. Get your facts strait

  • Mjanswers

    In support of your argument: Marijuana is demonstratively less harmful and addictive than alcohol.

    But should alcohol be banned? No. It should be available to adults to use responsibly — Those who do not use it responsibly should have the book thrown at them.

    How can any reasonable, informed person who enjoys alcohol responsibly be against marijuana?

  • David Patterson

    It is a new day in America. Beginning with California, we are retaking our rights. You can get mad about it, start using fuzzy math, or even jump up and down until you bounce off the earth, but there is no stopping Marijuana Legalization.

  • PabloKOh

    ?% -The percentage of respondents that will lie to human pollsters involving questions regarding illegal drugs.
    88% – The percentage of marijuana arrests for simple possession.
    10 – Number of medical cannabis dispensaries raided after Obama and Eric Holder's memo.

  • Sw33tleaf

    Didn't mention the taxing of commercial growing. Didn't mention the jobs created tending and transporting. Didn't mention the taxes paid from those jobs. Didn't mention the sales and taxes retail. Didn't mention the potential subset of jobs created from the other sources of the plant. Just to name a few off the top of my head. Kind of a half assed article IMO. Good try though.

  • LawyertotheGame

    very fuzzy math and a very poorly researched article. She seems to be regurgitating ideas without understanding anything about them.

  • Rina Palta

    Good ones. Watch for a follow-up list with reader suggestions.

  • Big H

    Still hungover from last night. I am really paying for it now.

    Alcohol should be illegal

  • SeanD

    What I'm most curious about is the accuracy of the polling with regard to how honest people are being. I suspect there are alot of people who smoke who might deny it publicly (even in responding to a poll about prop 19) but will vote to legalize. We'll only know after the election.

  • Weirdharold

    A drug cannot cause addiction alone. there has got to be something else going on in the brain for there to be an addict. My thoughts alone.

  • Joeschmeaux

    How about the amount of money which currently goes untaxed into the underground economy or over the border?

    How about the number of users who currently get their pot on the black market and the amount they spend on pot annually?

    How about the amount of money users will save when the price goes down?

    How about the amount of money from the increased tourism generated by the new law and its effect on our local economies?

    How about the amount of money saved on enforcement, eradication, prosecution, defense, courts, prisons, and parole officers?

    How about the amount of money gained in income tax from people who would otherwise be in prison, unable to work and contribute?

    How about the extent to which the new law would reduce overcrowding in prisons?

    How about the number of children who would otherwise have a parent in prison?

    How about the energy savings from being able to grow outdoors without worry?

    How about the amount of reduction in harm to our public lands?

    How about the number of pot farms in urban homes which would be eliminated?

    How about the number of people who won't lose their lives due to their involvement in the black market?

    How about the number of law enforcement professionals who won't lose their lives due to their involvement in the drug war?

    How about the number of politicians who say they are for states rights — but only when it suits them?

    How about the number of reporters who will no longer google together biased articles about prop 19?

    You didn't miss a thing.

    :disgust;

  • Drmaddogs

    Worst thing is the fundemental markets in Medicine reaserch, could be any number of answers in Cannibids, all for naught. Then the market for hemp.. seed/food Carbon/Co2 lockdowns eliminating some subsideries for not growing other crops because of the same Dept of Commerce

    that has a lot to say via CSA act.

    I've a friend with family in La. that used to get those subsidies, now the Govt. has an experimental Hemp harvet ongoing there.

    Lets face it, it never was about “drugs”, still isn't… it's about protecting those generating revenue,

    using unfair practices. The same % consume Sativa now as did in the day of our forfathers whom established this nation. Only now, Commerce is equated with corruption. In essence, only the most corrupt survive, ie; “behind every fortune is a crime”.

    Survival of the populace/ and the attending civil rights, in a corrupted enviroment depends on the populace standing up for themselves. The corrupt won't do it for you. We are the threat. Those that won't be controlled, won't go along to get along, won't be lied to or manipulated or sued by 550 elected representatives that are tied to which way the wind blows in politics and the financing

    of politics by the same Corporations that control the Dept. of Commerce.

    Show the Washington Federalists it's American voters with the power to decide. Vote.

  • billy bob

    the only reason that the state doesn't legalize weed is because the state cant tax it

  • Anonymous

    So what did you say about prop19?
    Vote it on this site:
    http://flipter.com/user/178/

    Let’s see if the 60% needed is there.