The NORML Big Book of Marijuana Facts is our collection of the most up-to-date statistics and polling on the subject of cannabis and marijuana law reform. Journalists, researchers, students, and activists are encouraged to copy and distribute the charts and data from this site, so long as material remains unaltered and unedited. All print and online reproductions must attribute credit (e.g. “from NORML's Big Book of Marijuana Facts by Russ Belville”) and all online reproductions must hyperlink back to this website URL (http://stash.norml.org/bigbook).

Table of Contents

Marijuana Arrests in America

Marijuana Arrests by Administration

Annual totals of marijuana arrests since 1970, organized by presidential administration, including relative changes in arrest totals during each administration.

Marijuana Use in America

Monthly Adult Use of Marijuana by State (2009)

Percentage of the population aged 18 and older who have used marijuana at least once in the prior month. Tables include data since 2004 with five-year-trends.

Adult Marijuana Use Rates (Lifetime, Annual, Monthly) by Year

Percentage and actual numbers of adults (18+) who have tried marijuana, use marijuana annually, and use marijuana monthly, from 1979-2009.

Marijuana vs. Other Drugs

The "Gateway Effect" of Marijuana vs. Alcohol and Pain Killers

Regular use of cocaine, crack, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, PCP, and meth based on whether one has tried marijuana, Oxycontin, Vicodin, Lorcet, & Lortab, as well as regular marijuana and alcohol use.