The RI debate about legalizing marijuana revs up as lawmakers prepare to vet bills on April 11. With recreational weed now legal in Massachusetts and Maine, advocates here believe they have momentum.

Could Rhode Island become the ninth state in the country to legalize marijuana?

The debate will heat up again on Smith Hill next week when House lawmakers vet the legislation during an April 11 hearing.

Similar hearings have taken place every year since 2011, and none have resulted in a vote. But as Massachusetts and Maine legalized the drug this year, Rhode Island advocates hope their cause has more momentum.

The Marijuana Policy Project, the national organization that pushes for legalization across the country, has added to its troops in Rhode Island this year, registering a third State House lobbyist, Matthew Schweich, the organization's director of state campaigns.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy's anti-legalization organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana, for the first time has registered a lobbyist in Rhode Island — perhaps signaling a forthcoming fight.

Advocates initially hailed Dominick J. Ruggerio's ascension to Senate president because as he is a sponsor of the legalization bill. But Ruggerio has recently hedged support.

"I'm a supporter of the concept, but I think it needs a lot of work," Ruggerio said, pointing to concerns about state agencies determining regulations. "When I first signed [as a bill sponsor] I wanted to make sure I had a seat at the table because it is a complicated issue."

Meanwhile, bill sponsors have declared they have majority support in both chambers to pass the legislation if leadership allows a vote.

Here's a look at legalization efforts across New England:

Massachusetts

The Bay State's entrance into the world of legal marijuana this year has had the greatest impact on the legalization debate as advocates argue Rhode Island could miss out on tax revenue if lawmakers don't act fast.

Just how much revenue there is to be made as legalization also means devoting more money to substance abuse prevention and creating a new layer of regulatory oversight is up for debate.

Lawmakers there have applied the brakes, pushing off the opening of commercial pot shops six months to July 2018.

Legalized marijuana is supposed to be overseen by a Cannabis Control Commission. Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has until September to appoint commissioners, and the commission has until March 2018 to develop regulations.

The Boston Globe reported this week that the Legislature is planning to strip the treasurer's office of its authority in favor of creating a more independent commission.

Maine

Maine's Legislature has also declared it needs more time to decide how to proceed. Lawmakers have set a deadline of February 2018 for creating regulations that could lead to pot shops, pushing back the timeline in the question voters approved.

A bill pending in the Legislature would put marijuana oversight control under the state's Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations. The bill calls for $1.6 million to begin the process, according to Schweich, who oversaw Maine's campaign.

Connecticut

Connecticut was not a state that has been known for its rigorous debate on marijuana legalization — until this year.

Four bills proposing different avenues for legalization have been introduced in the General Assembly, and two have seen public hearings — the first such hearings to ever take place on marijuana legalization in the state. Another hearing is expected before April 27, according to Sam Tracy, who is heading the legalization drive.

"Even if none of the bills make it out of their committees, there is still the possibility of legalization being included in the budget as legislators are trying to close a $1.7-billion gap," Tracey said.

Vermont

Legalization advocates had a victory in March as the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would legalize possession of an ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 and older.

Unlike Rhode Island's bill, the legislation in Vermont would not create a "taxed and regulated" market, meaning pot shops and added tax revenue are not a part of the equation.

Last week the House delayed a floor vote on the bill and sent it for another round of committee reviews.

If the House does take any action this year, it will likely only be symbolic. "Crossover day," the Vermont Legislature's deadline to send a bill to the opposing chamber, has already passed.

New Hampshire

The "Live Free or Die" state is the only state in New England where possessing "small amounts" of marijuana can land someone in jail. Decriminalization rather than legalization is the focus for drug policy reform advocates there.

A bill that would remove criminal penalties for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana was overwhelmingly approved in March by the House of Representatives.

Advocates believe there's a strong chance the bill will become law, according to Matt Simon who heads the campaign. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican who took office in January, has stated his support in a number of media outlets.

jbogdan@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @JenniferBogdan