Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational use  of marijuana Tuesday night, setting up a battle between the states and the  federal government, which prohibits use of the drug.

The historic votes were among a host of  decisions on ballot initiatives that will shape state-level policy on everything  from recreational drug use to same-sex marriage.

“The voters have spoken and we have to  respect their will,” said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who opposed the  marijuana measure in his state. “This will be a complicated process, but we  intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an  illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too  quickly.”

The Colorado measure has sparked a national  debate about marijuana policy, with supporters pushing for the federal  government to end marijuana prohibition nationwide. The Colorado measure states  adults over 21 can possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, or six marijuana plants,  for personal use. Opponents have said it will make the state a haven for drug  tourists.

The measure in Washington State, Initiative  502, will legalize and regulate the production, possession and distribution of  marijuana for residents age 21 and older.

The new law will impose a 25 percent tax rate  on marijuana when the grower sells it to the processor, when the processor sells  it to the retailer and when the retailer sells it to the customer. The measure  could bring in $500 million, a figure analysts dispute.

Voters in Oregon, where the pro-marijuana  advocates were less organized and poorly funded, defeated a ballot measure that  would have allowed the commercial growth and sale of marijuana to adults. Known  as Measure 80, it would have legalized pot through state-licensed stores,  allowed unlicensed growth and use of marijuana by adults and prohibit  restrictions on pot.

In Arkansas, voters rejected a measure  legalizing medical marijuana, while in Massachusetts, voters supported a similar  measure. Massachusetts also voted on a physician-assisted suicide measure, but  that result was too close to call early Wednesday.

Maine and Maryland residents approved  same-sex marriage, giving the gay rights movement its latest victories.  Washington voters also voted on a same-sex marriage measure, but the results are  not yet known because voters there had to mail in their decisions. In Minnesota  voters were deciding on a proposal to ban gay marriage in the state  constitution.

Maine’s ballot measure signaled the first  time that gay-rights supporters put the issue to a popular vote.

In both Maryland and Washington, gay-marriage  laws were approved by lawmakers and signed by the governors earlier this year,  but opponents gathered enough signatures to challenge the laws.

In Minnesota, the question was whether the  state would join 30 others in placing a ban on gay marriage in its constitution.  Even if the ban is defeated, same-sex marriage would remain illegal in Minnesota  under statute.

Gay marriage is legal in six states and the  District of Columbia – in each case the result of legislation or court orders,  not by a vote of the people.

In Maryland, students brought to the United  States illegally as children, won their fight to obtain in-state tuition breaks  at the state's public colleges and universities. It also helps some illegal  immigrants who graduate from high school in Maryland.