The majority leader of the Rhode Island Senate says the state should join others that have recently legalized marijuana, and other top lawmakers who have in recent years been reluctant to advance the issue seem newly open to the idea as a way to boost the economy.

Election Day not only ushered in marijuana legalization wins in five states, it also brought more than two dozen victories at the city and county levels in California, opening the door to new local markets for cannabis businesses up and down the state.

It’s no secret to those following the news lately that the future of cannabis is looking bright following the recent U.S. elections.

On the heels of five U.S. states voting to legalize marijuana in some form last week, lawmakers in Texas are getting a head start introducing a number of cannabis-related bills for next year, including one that would legalize it for adult use.

Less than a week after an Election Day in which voters in five states approved ballot measures to legalize marijuana in some form, a top leader in the U.S. House of Representatives announced that the body will hold a floor vote on a bill to end federal cannabis prohibition next month.