US states have voted to legalise marijuana, allow gay marriage and keep public funding for abortions, in a string of liberal poll decisions accompanying Barack Obama's re-election.
The moves were decided among more than 170 ballot initiatives and referendums held across the country on Tuesday, as America voted the Democratic president back in for four more years.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, whose state is one of two to legalise marijuana for recreational as well as medicinal purposes, accepted his western state's vote - albeit with tongue in cheek.
"The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will ... That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug," he said, referring to nationwide legislation which conflicts with a number of states' own laws.
"So don't break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly," he said, referring to two popular brands of cheesy snacks. Marijuana is known to stimulate the appetite.
Obama came out in favour of same-sex marriage months before the election pitting him against Republican rival Mitt Romney, who insists that marriage should be reserved for a relationship between a man and a woman.
During his first four-year term Obama had also fulfilled a pledge to repeal the controversial Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) law banning openly gay servicemen and women from serving in the US military.
Three states voted Tuesday to legalise same-sex marriage, including Maine - which voted in a referendum against it in 2009, but reversed that decision with 53 per cent in favour to 47 per cent against.
Washington state and Maryland also appeared set to approve the move, which had already been passed by state lawmakers. Both states voted 52-48 per cent in favour, according to CNN projections based on partial results.
Same-sex marriage is not federally recognised, but it was already legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia. It is constitutionally banned in 31 states.
Meanwhile three states - Colorado, Washington and Oregon - voted on proposals to legalise marijuana, including for recreational use, going further than a number of states which already allow it for medicinal purposes.
Colorado backed the move by 54 per cent in favour to 46 per cent against, and Washington by 55 per cent to 45 per cent, according to CNN citing partial results. Oregon rejected it by 56 per cent to 44 per cent, it said.
In other closely watched initiatives, California rejected a move to ban the death penalty, and one to enforce labelling of genetically-modified (GM) foodstuffs - which would have been a US first if passed.
In a more local vote, Los Angeles County voted to oblige porn actors to wear condoms while on set - the San Fernando Valley north of LA is the centre of the US pornographic film industry.
Florida voters meanwhile rejected a proposal to ban the use of public funds for abortion or for insurance coverage for the service, according to partial results.
Fifty-five per cent of voters rejected Florida's so-called Amendment 6, with 45 per cent in favour, according to NBC and CNN.
Abortion has long been a hugely divisive issue in America, with many Republicans fiercely opposed. During the campaign two Republican politicians made controversial comments which fuelled the debate.
In Missouri Republican candidate Todd Akin triggered a firestorm by suggesting that a women's body could shut down conception in cases of "legitimate rape."
More recently, in a hotly contested Senate race in Indiana, Republican Richard Mourdock was criticised for suggesting that if a woman becomes pregnant from rape, it is "something that God intended to happen."
Both Akin and Mourdock were beaten in their respective poll races on Tuesday.
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