On election day, five states voted on the status of marijuana. They decided on what would be the best way to utilize it: recreationally, medically or not at all. Although it is still illegal under federal law and classified as a Schedule I Drug, the states have been left with the decision on how to regulate this law. In 2012, it was legalized recreationally in Colorado and Washington State. Today, voters have now legalized marijuana in California, Maine, Nevada, Massachusetts and medically in Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota. Many studies have been done that predict that the level of overdoses on opioids will see a drastic drop now that marijuana has been legalized. Doctors are also less likely to prescribe patients painkillers now that the drug has been legalized medically in an abundant amount of states. This is the case because marijuana is an enhancer of opioids, and allows them to take a lower dose to achieve the level of pain relief in mind.

Although marijuana is not a harmful drug and is not as dangerous as tobacco and alcohol, many will argue that it is a gateway for the other drugs of America. However, the legalization will now have economic and personal gain for Americans and the states they live in. In 2014, during the first six months, Colorado produced 25 million dollars of tax related marijuana money. If implemented in all 50 states, the revenue can be used to improve educational standards and improve healthcare all over the nation. Legalization will now benefit the national government as well.