The Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says African Americans are more likely than whites to be arrested on marijuana charges in the state.
The ACLU used federal crime statistics and U.S. Census data from 2001 to 2010 to determine that African Americans were more likely than whites to be arrested. In 2010, the figure was 4.4 times more likely. The national figure was 3.73 percent more likely.
Other figures show African Americans and whites use marijuana in roughly equal numbers.
ACLU Director Alan Gilbert says the results indicate that racial profiling is a problem in Vermont.
The report found that in Vermont, Rutland County had the highest disparity with African Americans, 16.8 times more likely than whites to be arrested on a marijuana possession charge.
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