The new era of the war on drugs began yesterday, January 1, 2014. For 70 years, since the Marijuana Stamp Act, marijuana has been illegal in the United States. Colorado is leading the way, followed by Washington State and Uruguay in decriminalizing the recreational use, possession and production of marijuana. This is extremely important for everyone. If you live in this world, it will have profound influences on your life. Even non-smokers and drug advocates will be better off in a world where marijuana is a legal substance. Before January, Amsterdam and the Netherlands had the most lax drug laws in the world. The sale of small quantities and the use of small quantities were legal. Production was tightly controlled, as were the quantities retailers had to keep in stock. Colorado has much more lax laws regarding the retail possession and production capabilities of its citizens. Basically, today, Coloradoans have the added ability, beyond the Dutch, to be marijuana growers. The question now arises: why is it good? Marijuana is, after all, an evil gateway drug that pollutes the minds of young people. It's the same reason why legal alcohol is a good thing. In 1919, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the sale, production and consumption of alcohol in the United States of America. During this period, until 1933, when the 21st Amendment was passed, the alcohol trade had gone underground. Alcohol consumption is far from gone, but what happened was far worse than the dirty bars the abolitionists wanted to eliminate. Alcohol was produced in a hidden manner. Bathtub Gin, Moonshine and imported alcohol were the means used by people who wanted to drink. These alcohols were unregulated and very often extremely dangerous. Distillation is how 15% alcohol by volume...... middle of paper ......ar, but the money will stay here. The $70 million in tax revenue Colorado estimates this year does not go to drug cartels. Then the 122.5 million sales will be donated to local businesses that hire locals and buy from local farmers paying local taxes. All this money stays in the United States, providing jobs and balancing budgets. One final point to make since the war on drugs has taken off in full swing. America has become the most imprisoned population in the world per capita. That's right, there are more Americans in prison than the communist dictatorships of North Korea, China or Cuba. More Americans than in Russian or ex-Soviet gulags. The prison population is increasing despite FBI reports of a decrease in crime. Legalizing marijuana is a step toward making America a little more the land of the free and less of the prison state it's headed toward..