Marijuana Trafficking Prosecutions Plummet Again But Cases Involving Other Drugs Rise

The number of federal marijuana trafficking offenders has dropped significantly from 5,000 in 2013 to fewer than 806 in the last year, according to Marijuana Moment citing the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC).

The number of federal cannabis trafficking cases fell for the second consecutive year in 2022 due to state legalization, suggesting regulated marijuana markets for adults would reduce demand for illicit products and result in fewer arrests.

However, the report found an uptick in cases of trafficking for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and powder cocaine between 2021 and 2022.

The average sentence for a cannabis trafficking case is 33 months, compared to 94 months for methamphetamine and 65 months for fentanyl.

The USSC has proposed amending its guidelines for federal judges to treat prior marijuana possession offenses more leniently in sentencing decisions.

The Justice Department supports this change by recommending that judges take into consideration several factors, including the quantity and packaging of marijuana, the presence of large amounts of money, firearms and other indications of drug trafficking.

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