Delaware’s first bill to legalize recreational marijuana is expected to be unveiled today.

The draft legislation reportedly would allow state residents 21 and older to purchase up to an ounce of cannabis from dozens of stores authorized to sell the drug, which is now limited only to patients enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program.

The bill is expected to be formally introduced by chief sponsors Rep. Helene Keeley and Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, both Wilmington Democrats.

Henry, who penned Delaware’s 2011 medical marijuana bill, first announced plans to seek legalization for recreational consumption last fall.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle,” Henry told the state Medical Marijuana Act Oversight Committee in October. “But it’s time, quite frankly. It’s time to certainly look at it.”

A poll conducted by the University of Delaware last year found that more than 60 percent of state residents support full legalization of marijuana.

Gov. John Carney is not one of them, however. [Read more at Delaware Online]