Black Americans accounted for 83% of the nationwide increase in marijuana possession arrests in 2025, according to a new analysis of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data, despite marijuana use rates being similar among Black and white Americans.
The analysis released last week by FWD.us found that marijuana possession arrests involving Black Americans increased by 9,201 between 2024 and 2025, compared with an increase of 1,571 among white Americans. Overall, the number of marijuana possession arrests rose by 11,091, or approximately 6%, reaching 201,273 nationwide.
According to the report, Black Americans were arrested for marijuana possession at a rate of 182 per 100,000 residents, compared with 41 per 100,000 white residents. That means Black Americans faced arrest at more than four times the rate of white Americans, even though national surveys have consistently found relatively similar rates of marijuana consumption.
Marijuana possession arrests involving Black Americans increased by nearly 10% in 2025, while arrests among other racial groups remained largely unchanged. Black Americans accounted for approximately 45% of all marijuana possession arrests recorded nationally, according to the analysis.
The report also found that the increase in arrests was heavily concentrated in states that have not legalized recreational marijuana. Eight southern states accounted for approximately 75% of the nationwide increase, including Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina and Arkansas.
Texas recorded the largest increase, with 2,165 additional marijuana possession arrests, followed by Georgia with 1,401 and Alabama with 1,147. Mississippi recorded 916 additional arrests, while South Carolina and Florida saw increases of 718 and 701, respectively.
Washington, D.C., also experienced a substantial increase, with marijuana possession arrests more than doubling from 2024 to 2025, rising 108%.
The findings build on previously released FBI statistics showing that marijuana arrests increased nationwide in 2025, reversing a longstanding downward trend. The new analysis provides additional details about the racial disparities underlying that increase.
FWD.us based its findings on FBI arrest records, which depend on law enforcement agencies submitting information to the federal reporting system. Because reporting is not complete across every jurisdiction, the figures should not be interpreted as capturing every marijuana-related arrest in the United States.
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