An Examination of Racial Disparities in Misdemeanor Marijuana Possession Arrests Following Reforms in Four U.S. Jurisdictions

Abstract

Abstract Using data from New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Prince George’s County, MD; and Louisville, KY, we examine trends in racial disparities in the enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana possessionbefore and after marijuana reforms. In these jurisdictions, we find that changes to marijuana enforcement were associated with reductions in arrest rates for Black, Hispanic, and White people, though the rate of decline varied by jurisdiction. Black people were arrested at the highest rates in relation to their proportion of the population. In three of the four jurisdictions where issuing criminal citations was an enforcement option, racial/ethnic disparities in arrest rates increased post-reforms; legalization and the option to issue a civil citation were associated with reductions in racial/ethnic disparities. Trends in this study provide policymakers with information to implement effective reforms that target racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests.