PORTLAND — A decisive vote legalizing recreational marijuana in Maine’s largest city sets the state for advocates to push for a law that would make pot legal statewide.

By a margin of 67-33 percent, Portland voters on Tuesday supported a referendum making it legal for adults 21 and over to possess up to 2 ½ ounces of marijuana.

David Boyer of the Marijuana Policy Project says he’s hopeful the Legislature will pass a state law next year to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. If that doesn’t happen, he envisions a statewide referendum in 2016 asking voters to decide.

State Rep. Diane Russell says she wants legislators to work out the details of a state law early next year and have Mainers vote on the question as soon as next November.


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