More than 40 House Democrats have introduced Connecticut’s first marijuana legalization bill, laying out a plan for the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling the drug to all customers.

Previous recreational marijuana bills have failed, but lawmakers have an increased sense of urgency this year with bigger Democratic margins in the General Assembly, a new governor who is supportive and legal sales across the border in Massachusetts.

The proposed bill dictates that sales would be limited to customers who are 21 and older and that medical marijuana dispensaries would be given the first licensees to sell recreational pot. The drug would be taxed, but the legislation does not include a specific tax rate.

People who have criminal convictions for marijuana possession would have their records wiped clean.

Revenue estimates for marijuana have varied widely, with the legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal office estimating annual tax revenue of more than $30 million under a tax model similar to Massachusetts’. Some legalization advocates have predicted as much as $180 million annually.

A portion of the money raised from the tax on marijuana would go toward drug awareness education, drug-prevention officers in schools and substance abuse treatment programs, according to the proposed bill. [Read more at Hartford Courant]