Recently, seven states and the District of Columbia extended their laws of legalizing marijuana for recreation and medical use.

Over half the country has now legalized the medical usage of marijuana with only eight states legalized for recreational use. The money made from the marijuana is going to several places but primarily going to education. Cannabis is the most used drug in the United States.

Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia have medical use of marijuana legalized with more states likely to follow. Seven of those states have more expansive laws, legalizing recreational use. Recreational use is protected by the 64 amendment stating: “… providing for the regulation of marijuana; permitting a person twenty-one years of age or older to consume or possess limited amounts of marijuana…”

Other states including Nebraska, Missouri and Kentucky discriminate against marijuana. Having possession of marijuana is illegal.

The legalization of cannabis has led to almost a billion dollars in sales, with 135 million coming from Colorado alone. Over a skype session, Michel Martin asked Ricardo Baca what the money was being used for. “It’s going to an assortment of places. The state funds are primarily going toward education – teaching youth about the potential risks and what we know, also teaching adults about how to treat this newly legal substance. You know, schools are also a big focal point,” said Baca.

In 2012, Colorado voters for amendment 64 were promised to the first 40 million dollar of recreational excise tax going to capital school construction. “…so that’s a big part of it, too. But then you see the different municipalities that are able to disseminate the money however they choose. And so we’re seeing cities give it to homelessness or creating college scholarships with pot taxes,” said Baca to Martin.

Cannabis became the most used drug in the United States in 2008. According to Michelle Castillo from the CBS news reportings the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 15.2 million has used marijuana a month  before the NSDUH Survey.