The first Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday wasn’t the splashy policy rollout marijuana legalization advocates wanted, but it was enough to convince them Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has finally come around to their point of view, adding another cadre of progressives to his army of grassroots supporters.

It came near the end of the debate, and it wasn’t even a question about national politics.

“Sen. Sanders, right here in Nevada, there will be a measure to legalize recreational marijuana on the 2016 ballot,” CNN debate moderator Anderson Cooper asked. “You’ve said you smoked marijuana twice; it didn’t quite work for you. If you were a Nevada resident, how would you vote?”

“I suspect I would vote yes,” Sanders replied.

CRANBURY, N.J., (CBS) — The New Jersey Department of Healthannounced on Wednesday that the fifth facility allowed to dispense medical marijuana in the state has received a permit.

The permit was issued to Breakwater Treatment and Wellness in Cranbury, Middlesex County and allows the facility to operate as an Alternative Treatment Center (ATC).

The legalization of recreational marijuana in Denver, Colorado three years ago has brought economic growth in the area as cannabis industry raked in $700 million from last year's sale and $94 million from tax revenue in expected to be collected in 2016. However, as the cannabis industry flourishes, the local housing industry starts to perish.

Mike Rego’s path to the medical marijuana industry is unique. In a former life as a Newport, Rhode Island police officer (and later narcotics detective), he arrested cannabis producers – now he protects them.

His career in law enforcement began in 1993 as an officer for the Newport Police Department. In 1998 he was promoted to narcotics detective, a role he served in until 2010 when he was forced to retire following “numerous” knee surgeries. In an effort to treat his injuries he began acupuncture and it was his acupuncturist who ultimately approached him about working on a medical dispensary venture in Rhode Island.

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is facing pressure from marijuana advocates ahead of the first debate.

As more states legalize medical and recreational marijuana, a number of presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle have called for looser drug policies to varying degrees.

Marijuana advocates say it is a positive step for their cause, but they would like to see stronger commitments from Clinton and some of the other candidates.

“Hillary is probably the worst of the bunch on marijuana reform, and even she has said states should be ‘laboratories of democracy’ when it comes to legalization,” said Dan Riffle, director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, comparing Clinton to the other Democratic candidates.

In the last half hour of the Democratic presidential debate Tuesday night, the conversation turned toward a subject that, according to CNN moderator Anderson Cooper, everybody in the room probably enjoyed: marijuana.

Before the commercial break, Anderson teased he would be asking the candidates about marijuana, but then he directed his question just to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders said if he could, he would vote to legalize marijuana in the state of Nevada -- which will see the question on its ballot in 2016. Nevada already has legal medical marijuana. Sanders then pivoted to focus on drug arrests, which he said are out of control.

He's the first presidential candidate from a major party to do so.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) became the first presidential candidate from a major party to say that he would support legalizing recreational marijuana if given the chance.

Asked whether he would support an upcoming ballot measure on legalizing recreational pot in Nevada, Sanders said that he would.

Marijuana entrepreneurs saw their hopes go up in smoke Tuesday, as the Colorado Springs City Council voted for six-month moratoriums after hearing hours of testimony.

The final vote on a timeout for cannabis clubs was 7-2, with Councilors Bill Murray and Helen Collins dissenting.

But a preliminary vote on medical marijuana businesses split the council 5-4, with Murray and Collins joined by Councilman Tom Strand and President Pro Tem Jill Gaebler in the minority.

The difference between the two categories was underscored when the council, at Councilman Keith King's behest, amended the medical marijuana moratorium to ensure that it will not exceed six months.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who commands the liberal left with his economic policy positions, said he would vote in favor of a local Nevada measure that would legalize recreational pot use.

"I would vote yes because I am seeing in this country too many lives being destroyed for non-violent offenses," he said. "We have a criminal justice system that lets CEOs on Wall Street walk away, and yet we are imprisoning or giving jail sentences to young people who are smoking marijuana."

For former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the answer was hazier.

Asked if she was ready to take a position on legalizing recreational marijuana, she replied, "No."