New Mexico Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Monday legalizing recreational marijuana use, making it the seventh state since November to put an end to pot prohibition.
She has supported marijuana reform to create jobs and shore up revenue in her state.
"It is good for workers; it is good for entrepreneurs; it is good for consumers," she said of legalization. "And it brings about social justice in ways in which we have been talking about and advocating for, for decades."
Since 2012, 15 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for adults over the age of 21. And 36 states have legalized medical marijuana — meaning a majority of Americans now have access to marijuana, whether medically or recreationally, Axios reported.
"This is a significant victory for New Mexico," the governor wrote in a statement. "Workers will benefit from the opportunity to build careers in this new economy."
The move is expected to provide the state with an influx of cash. It projects 20 million in state revenue for New Mexico in 2023 with local governments raking in $10 million in revenue.
Under the new law, prisoners in the state might also qualify to have their convictions for marijuana related offenses reexamined, The Associated Press reported.
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