The world is changing. The push for marijuana legalization is in full force in the United States. With the legalization of medical marijuana in California on November 5, 1996, the United States made progress in its movement toward full legalization (mbc.ca.gov). Now that 21 states, plus Washington DC, have state medical marijuana legalization laws in full force, along with Colorado and Washington having legalized recreational marijuana use, the United States is on track for full legalization (whitehouse. gov). Legalizing cannabis in the United States will provide state and federal governments with increased tax revenue, save money and resources from the war on marijuana, and most importantly, benefit people in numerous ways. The most widely discussed benefit of cannabis legalization is the tax revenue that can be obtained at the state and federal levels. With the legalization and sale of cannabis throughout the United States, local, state, and federal governments will be able to rake in millions and potentially billions of dollars each year that can be used to fund schools, support communities, and provide a variety of products. helpful in many other areas. Medical marijuana sales in the state of Colorado alone in 2011-2012 reached over $219 million and brought in just under $6 million in state sales taxes (colorado.gov). Medical marijuana in Colorado was not subject to excise taxes, but still managed to rake in about $6 million in taxes. Medical marijuana laws are still in place in Colorado, but with the addition of recreational marijuana sales, state, local, and federal governments should be able to bring in even more tax revenue (sos.state.co.us). The current...... middle of the paper ...... enhanced by marijuana." Whitehouse.gov. Np, nd Web. January 15, 2014."Marijuana/cannabis." Justice.gov. Np, nd Web. January 16, 2014.Presse, Agence F. "Jobs, tax revenues and tourism: America's first marijuana shops open in Colorado | The Raw Story." Rawstory.com. Np, nd Web. January 16, 2014. "Retail Marijuana License Information." Colorado.gov. Np, nd Web. January 16, 2014. "Sales 93: Sales Tax on Marijuana. " Colorado.gov., nd Web. January 16, 2014. "States Push to Get the Most Out of Marijuana Taxes." Nytimes.com, nd Web. January 16, 2014. "Tobacco-Related Mortality." gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Aug. 1, 2013. Web. Jan. 16, 2014. “Uniform Crime Reports: Arrests.” More Money: Colorado's Legal Pot Dealers or Illegal Ones? Slate.com. Np, nd Web. January 18. 2014.