Key Findings
Marijuana Possession Arrests in
Colorado
over 10,000 in 2010, totaling 210,000 arrests over the past 25 years.
In the five years from 1986 to 1990, police in Colorado made 19,400
possession arrests. Twenty years later, from 2006 to 2010, police made
55,900 marijuana possession arrests, almost three times as many.
From 2001 through 2010, Colorado police made 108,000 arrests for
possessing marijuana, overwhelmingly of young people. More than twothirds
(69%) of those arrested were 25 or younger, 79% were 29 or younger,
and 86% of those arrested were age 34 or younger.
ten years. Blacks and Latinos, also mostly young, were 36% of the arrestees.
than young whites, in the last ten years police in Colorado arrested Latinos at
1.5 times the rate of whites and arrested blacks at 3.1 times the rate of whites.
marijuana arrests. Latinos were 19% of the state's residents, but a quarter
(25%) of Colorado's marijuana possession arrests.
internet by employers, landlords, schools, credit agencies, licensing boards,
and banks, erecting barriers to education, employment, and housing.
Marijuana possession arrests do not reduce serious crimes, and they take
police from other crime
‐fighting work.
Colorado is often said to be a marijuana decriminalization state, but since the
1970s, Colorado law has made possession of small amounts of marijuana a
crime, a Class 2 Petty Offense. Failure to appear in court as ordered by a
summons is another crime, punishable by six months in jail and a $500 fine.
courts, however, judges can impose fines of $300 or more, charge $50 per
month in probation fees, require regular drug testing, and send people to
jail for several days if they have used marijuana.
