The number of arrests for marijuana possession made by law enforcement agencies nationwide increased in 2014 for the first time in five years despite recreational use of the drug becoming legal in two states last year.

The new numbers, released by the FBI on Monday, brought a sharp reaction from groups that have been pushing for legalized recreational pot use in state campaigns across the country.

Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority, called the overall increase “jarring,” but said that with increased legalization of recreational use of the drug in several states, he expects the arrest totals to drop in the coming years.

“But at a time when a growing majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, it’s amazing that police are still putting more people in handcuffs for this,” Mr. Angell said.

Some marijuana advocates admitted they had not expected to see a U-turn in the arrest figures for 2014. [Read more at the Washington Times]