AUGUSTA, ME — Maine's marijuana legalization initiative has survived a recount and is now on track to become law in a matter of weeks. The "no" side on Saturday conceded in the middle of the recount, according to the Maine Secretary of State's Office.

Mainers on Election Day narrowly passed the legalization initiative by a razor-thin margin of 4,073 votes. The tally on Question 1 was 381,647 in favor and 377,574 opposed, with 50.27 percent in favor of legalization. About a third of those votes had been recounted as of Saturday.

"Marijuana will soon be legal in Maine," said David Boyer, campaign manager for the "yes" side. "We are grateful that the No on 1 campaign has conceded and look forward to working together towards a successful implementation of Question 1."

The recount tally on Question 1 is expected to be released sometime mid-week. After Gov. Paul LePage — who opposes legal marijuana — certifies the results, the law will be enacted in 30 days. That would put the law's effective date at the end of the January.

Under the legalization language, adults would be allowed to buy up to 2-1/2 ounces of marijuana from retail stores. Marijuana social clubs would also be allowed.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

Maine was one of four states on Election Day that approved legalizing marijuana for sale. The others were Massachusetts, California, and Nevada. Arizona was the sole state to reject a legalization initiative.

Massachusetts' initiative became law on Thursday, though — like Maine — retail sales are still at least a year off as government officials create framework policies.

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

LePage and the group Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities oppose legalization. LePage warned it will have "deadly consequences."

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 in the days leading up to the election.

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."

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