AUGUSTA, ME — The Pine Tree State is a whole lot more green. Maine voters approved legalizing marijuana by a razor-thin margin on Election Day Tuesday. The final results were not released until Thursday afternoon as multiple northern precincts finished reporting.

The measure was approved with a 50.2 percent majority, according to the Associated Press. The final tally was 378,288 votes in favor and 375,668 opposed — a margin of just 2,620 votes. Opponents of the measure have indicated they may request a recount.

The yes side claimed victory Wednesday morning before the final results were tabulated.

“We’re excited that Mainers have chosen to adopt a more sensible marijuana policy, a policy in which we are not punishing Mainers for using a substance that is safer than alcohol,” David Boyer, the campaign manager for the yes side, said in a statement Wednesday morning. Boyer and supporters held a victory news conference in Portland Wednesday at about 11 a.m.

The Bangor Daily News was the first to call the race in favor of the yes side.

Maine is one of five states that voted on measures to legalize marijuana for retail sale Tuesday. Massachusetts, California and Nevada all approved legalization, while Arizona rejected it.

The pro-legalization in Maine side has been led by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The group says legalizing marijuana will "replace a dangerous underground market with a system of licensed businesses," raise millions in tax revenue and create thousands of jobs.

Gov. Paul LePage and the group Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities opposes legalization. LePage warned it would have "deadly consequences."

Question 1 asked Maine voters:

Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?

Adults are allowed to buy up to 2-1/2 ounces of marijuana. The measure would also allow marijuana social clubs.

Supporters said the first marijuana retail stores could open sometime around January 2018.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

LePage said marijuana use impairs drivers — leading to deadly crashes — and said marijuana users are also likely to use heroin.

"We do not need to legalize another drug that could lead to more deaths," LePage said in a statement last month.

LePage also said edible marijuana snacks "could kill children and pets."

"People will smoke marijuana in pot stores right next to schools, day care centers, and churches," LePage said. "They will smoke weed and sell pot at state fairs."

Photo: Shutterstock

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