California has decided to light up: The state became the biggest in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana use on Tuesday.
Proposition 64, which greenlights pot use for adults over 21 starting in 2018, looked set to pass with a 55 percent majority, according to early vote totals.
The ballot measure had been supported by Snoop Dogg, Shailene Woodley and other celebrities.
California becomes the fifth state in the U.S., plus the District of Columbia, to legalize pot for recreational use (the Golden State already allowed medicinal marijuana). Weed is already legal in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state. In addition, 20 other states have provisions allowing marijuana use for medical reasons.
With a population of nearly 40 million, California becomes by far the largest state to give the green stuff the green light. Colorado and Washington were the first in 2012.
Supporters of the measure say it will bring in $1 billion or more in annual taxes and other economic gains. But critics contend that marijuana is an addictive drug and a gateway to other forms of substance abuse.
Acceptance of marijuana has slowly spread across the U.S. in recent years.
Meanwhile, in a separate ballot measure, Florida voters on Tuesday legalized medical marijuana use. Other pot measures were on ballots in Maine, Massachusetts, Arizona and Nevada.