New Hampshire’s new governor, who is open to legalizing medical marijuana, may lead to the state joining the rest of New England in legalizing the drug.

Democratic governor-elect Maggie Hassan spoke in favor of medical marijuana legislation while running for governor, and her spokesman, Marc Goldberg, said Hassan still remains open to backing such legislation.

Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, told the New Hampshire Union Leader his group is optimistic about passing the law in 2013, and a new bill is expected to be filed this week in the statehouse.

"I think the bill will at least propose patients be allowed to cultivate for themselves or (buy from) dispensaries that are state-licensed," Simon said. "It will be up to the Legislature to go one way or another or both."