Police made a record number of arrests for marijuana violations in 2003, according to the just-released Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report. That year, 755,000 people were arrested, of which 88% were for simple possession and only 12% for "sale/manufacture." The 2003 total was roughly double the total number of marijuana arrests in 1993.

"What an incredible waste of time and resources," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, who noted that more than 70% of Americans support the decriminalization of marijuana and 40% now believe it should be legally taxed, controlled and regulated like alcohol. "For police to arrest more Americans on marijuana charges than ever before, notwithstanding majority public support for decriminalization, represents an inappropriate use of the criminal justice system to wage a culture war."

For years, federal officials have insisted that the government's "war on drugs" is not overly punitive, and that the majority of those imprisoned on drug charges are serving time for more than just possession. When it comes to marijuana, this is plainly not the case. To read more federal spin on marijuana, and the truth behind it, please see Nadelmann's articles in National Review.