The ways money is made illegally today are numerous. From drug dealers to hit men, these illegal money-making opportunities are widespread and influencing today's economy and government. The most common illegal ways to make money are drugs, prostitution, theft (obviously), fraud and hacking. Drugs: The most commonly sold and used drugs are: - Cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish) Estimated revenue in the United States: 10.5 billion-113 billion - Opiates (heroin, opium) Estimated revenue in the United States: 12 billion of dollars-Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines) Estimated revenues in the United States: 60 billion dollars-Club drugs (MDMA, Roofies, GHB) Estimated revenues in the United States: 10 billion-Hallucinogens (LSD, Peyote, Psilocybin ) Estimated revenue in the United States: 9 billion from anabolic steroids. Estimated income in the United States: $20 million. Marijuana is a drug that is the subject of much controversy because it is decriminalized in a few states and its medical use is legal in many states. If it were legalized and taxed the same as alcohol and cigarettes, there would be huge gains, as shown by Colorado gaining $2 million in taxes on marijuana alone in the first month of its illegalization, so theoretically we could possibly make $100 million a month overall. country in taxes, thereby improving our economy. Additionally, with legalization, it would reduce drug-related violence, especially with the cartel, and the DEA could reduce the time and money spent fighting marijuana. They might also focus on more dangerous drugs and drugs that incite aggression. Economically, another problem with drugs is that money is usually transferred from the United States to other countries for drugs, causing America to lose money. It may also cause tension with the government... in the middle of a newspaper... hacking really cost the economy?." . http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post /how-much-does-online-piracy-really-cost-the-economy/2012/01/05/gIQAXknNdP_blog.html (accessed May 19, 2014) “Insurance Fraud Laws and Penalties | ." CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/Insurance-Fraud.htm (accessed May 19, 2014). “It Sounds Too Good to Be True – Types of Fraud.” It looks too good to be true - Types of Fraud http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/fraud.aspx (accessed May 19, 2014).FBI "." -us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-us/2012/crime-in-the-us-2012/property-crime/burglary (accessed May 19, 2014). “Table of commonly abused drugs”. Drug Abuse (NIDA) http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/commonly-abused-drugs-chart (accessed May 19, 2014)