Rhode Island lawmakers are set to debate and likely pass recreational use of marijuana later Tuesday. 

If the governor signs the legislation, as expected, Rhode Island would become the 19th state to legalize adult use of marijuana since Colorado became the first in 2012. 

The issue has been tossed about for years but inched closer to actual reality last year when Thượng nghị viện first passed a legalization bill. Then in the final few months of last year, representatives of both the Senate and House, working with social equity advocates and court representatives, came to a consensus on how the new industry would be regulated and how previous marijuana convictions would be expunged. 

More:When will recreational marijuana be legal in RI? We may have an answer

The last stumbling block appeared to fall when legislative leaders conceded to the governor’s concerns that he had the Constitutional right to appoint the three members of a new cannabis control commission, which with the help of an advisory board, will choose who gets licenses to operate retail stores.