Washington State marijuana arrests plummeted after legalization but racial disparities widened

Among adults 21+, marijuana arrest rates dropped dramatically after legalization of possession and stayed low after retail market opening. African American arrest rates fell in absolute terms, but relative disparities grew from 2.5x to 5x higher than White rates. Among 18-20 year olds, rates dropped less dramatically and relative disparities were unchanged.

Analysis of 2012-2015 National Incident Based Reporting System data for Washington State, using negative binomial regression models to examine monthly marijuana arrest rates by race, adjusted for age and sex, comparing periods before and after legalization and retail market opening.

Reducing racial disparities in marijuana enforcement was an explicit justification for legalization. While absolute numbers of arrests decreased for everyone, the relative targeting of African Americans actually intensified, challenging whether legalization achieves its equity goals.

Legalization reduced the total number of people arrested for marijuana, which is a positive outcome in absolute terms. But the persistence and growth of racial disparities suggests that enforcement discretion and policing patterns are the root issue, which legalization alone cannot fix.

Only covers 2012-2015 (three years post-legalization). Washington State patterns may not generalize. NIBRS data capture arrests, not all police encounters. The growing relative disparity may partly reflect White arrest rates dropping faster rather than African American rates being maintained.