More arrests? Yes. A higher percentage? No.
With a public policy of marijuana arrests as the lowest priority (and the percentage of arrests did drop), there is a perception of a lower perceived risk. The number of users increased. The number of arrests increased, yes, but did not keep pace.
More arrests? Yes. A higher percentage? No.
Well, here's a correlation between more arrests, more demand, AND an increase in the percentage of arrests: from 1991-2004, arrests for mj were up over 150%, past-month demand was up 40%.* (that's also a failure to control demand during ONDCP's watch)
And dont forget this correlation from 1979-1991: Arrests declined by 25%, past-month usage declined to a multi-year low*.
Remember the Nixon Drug War? From 1970-1979, demand for mj and arrests for mj show a positive correlation.
*See post #270 on this thread for source.
Rio Linda summary-- There is at least as good a statistical case for the proposition that more arrests lead to more mj demand, as there is for the proposition that more arrests lead to less mj demand. I gave several time periods where the former relationship holds.